I'm an avid fan of Discovery Channel documentaries like Planet Earth and the recently concluded follow-up series, Life. The shows record in amazing, high-definition clarity the different landscapes that make up our planet and shine a spotlight on the more creative and interesting mammals, birds, and insects that live and die within them.

If I had to pick my favorite part of each episode, though, I'd go with the “behind the scenes” clip that wraps up each episode. In this portion, viewers are shown the extreme methods used by the series' crews to capture moments of natural behavior as they exist in an undisturbed world. It's typically just as fascinating as the finished product.

I found that writing this month's cover story resulted in a similar scenario. A lot of insightful material was left on the cutting-room floor when I wrapped up the research and composition of “Tricks of the Trade,” which you can read beginning on page 26 (or by clicking here!). So I'm going to let you in on some of the outtakes.

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