Several times per week I would go to the park and spend time at the viewing platforms.  It was a lot of fun observing the different birds as the seasons changed.  Here are a few of my memorable photos from the park:

Right after a cold-snap I took a ride hoping to photograph some ice formations.  It turned out to be a spectacular day, but I had a hard time trying to express the scale of the falls so I used the camera's self-timer and positioned myself in the scene.  Glad I chose to wear a yellow coat that day!!

When I was looking for other compositions, I heard some rustling behind me.  Turning around, I saw this guy:

He was quite curious and had no fear of me.  He came right up to me as I was photographing and decided to check things out.  Evidently he became interested in my tripod:

He was very entertaining to watch, so I grabbed my other camera with its longer lens to have at the ready in case an opportunity presented itself.  He wound up wandering into a patch of dwarf fireweed, and I got my camera ready figuring I can capture a photograph it amongst the flowers.  He roamed through the patch and I was able to capture this image, which is one of the most memorable wildlife moments I have encountered:

I returned to photographing the wildflowers and after a few minutes, I didn't hear him - I figured he must have gotten bored and wandered off.  I turned around and saw him like this:

He was sound asleep!  I felt very privileged to have a wild animal be comfortable with my presence that he fell asleep right next to me.  I also learned a valuable lesson - always be prepared for a wildlife encounter.  I had no intentions at all to photograph wildlife that day - it was the scenics and flowers that I had concentrated on.  Now, I always have a camera with a zoom telephoto lens on it ready to go for my next sighting!

Throughout the seasons there are always interesting photographic opportunities.  In springtime, flowering dogwoods resembling popcorn speckle the roadsides, summer brings out the wildflowers in all their glory, autumn colors rival New England's and winter sunrises and sunsets make you forget about the cold.

Here are a few of my memorable photographs along the Colonial Parkway:

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey or become prey themselves.

 Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

Very often I found myself drawn to the small details in many of the historic buildings we visited.  The craftsmanship that appeared throughout the buildings was simply mesmerizing.  Here are a few photos:

In researching Morocco, I read that other photographers have had extreme difficulties photographing the local people - much more so than other locations in Africa and Asia.  The local guides we had throughout our trip made photographing the people much easier - they were able to help us communicate.

It was very enjoyable photographing the local people, and would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the opportunity.

It's hard to describe the experience of wandering around the Medinas - it was a complete assault on the senses.  I saw things I've never seen, heard things I haven't heard and smelled things that I have never smelt before.  The flurry of activity made it somewhat challenging to photograph, which was a little frustrating considering there were opportunities around every corner.

Here are a few images from the souks:

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey or become prey themselves.

 Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 9/25/22 with new images

Wildlife photography was somewhat challenging as there weren't too many open spaces.  I found myself looking for more quiet scenes, often with my macro and wide-angle lenses. 

One thing that always amazed me was the ability of the small birds to withstand the harsh winters.  It was not uncommon for temperatures at the park to be 20-30 degrees colder than downtown Anchorage.  I remember one morning hiking when the temperature was 20-below zero and this wonderful, melodious sound came emanating from the creek.  It was an American Dipper, cheerily greeting the day with its soothing call.  I wasn't able to photograph this particular bird, but it was a wonderful way to start the day.  

Here are a few of my memorable images from the park:

I was photographing these marvelous trees when I suddenly heard a whisper overhead.  A Cormorant was coming in for a landing.  I was fortunate to have a longer lens on the camera and captured several images as it approached the surface of the water.  Sometimes the early bird gets the worm - or at least the photograph!

One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of wildlife photography is to create expressive images that stimulate different emotional responses, particularly as they relate to our own experiences in everyday life.

Occasionally I experience this response as I am making the photograph, but quite often it isn't until I review and reflect on the images that this parallel is drawn.

"Take your time" should be the moral of this photograph.  I was at a local nature trail photographing the foggy landscape of the wetlands.  Wetland areas take on an entirely different look in the fog becoming very mysterious and somewhat haunting.  The usual flurry of bird activity is replaced by a deafening silence that heightens one's senses.  

I was just about to pack up an leave when I heard a faint noise in the distance.  It was too loud to be a bird or small animal.  I looked, and looked, yet saw nothing.  I decided to wait.  After several minutes, I saw a flicker of an ear.  A huge male deer emerged from the fog.  I was able to capture several images before he fled.  I call this image Stealth because big deer do not become big deer by exposing themselves in the open.  

I'm glad I waited that morning - I was rewarded with one of my favorite wildlife images.

One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of wildlife photography is to create expressive images that stimulate different emotional responses, particularly as they relate to our own experiences in everyday life.

Occasionally I experience this response as I am making the photograph, but quite often it isn't until I review and reflect on the images that this parallel is drawn.

This young bear was watching his dedicated mother catch fish - studying her ever move with intense concentration.  One day its very survival will depend on it.  If this cub is a female, she may have to provide for her own cubs in a couple of years.

We all learn from others, and I am very thankful to those who passed along guidance to me as I was growing up.

Moose certainly deserve respect however.  Imagine driving down the street or riding your bike on a trail and encountering a horse right up close.  That’s pretty much the size of them and the males (or bulls) with their enormous antlers appear much larger.  Also, the bulls get kind of cranky around mating time and females (or cows) get extremely protective of their young in the spring.

Nevertheless, it’s a lot of fun to photograph these majestic animals.  In our three years in Anchorage, I was very fortunate to be able to photograph moose in their natural habitat, their behavior, and just enjoy their presence.

If you are interested in photographing moose in Anchorage, here are my favorite spots, all easily accessible within the city limits:

Kincaid Park

Far North Bicentennial Park

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

Chugach State Park

Here are some of my memorable moose photographs:

One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of wildlife photography is to create expressive images that stimulate different emotional responses, particularly as they relate to our own experiences in everyday life.

Occasionally I experience this response as I am making the photograph, but quite often it isn't until I review and reflect on the images that this parallel is drawn.

I intend for this to be a series of entries.  Here is the first one, and feel free to leave a comment with any thoughts that you may have.

Teamwork

Geese and other migratory birds fly in formation patterns to reduce drag (fatigue) that these birds inevitably experience during long flights.  The lead bird feels the full brunt of the oncoming wind while the others behind receive less drag, and as a result, formations of birds can fly significantly further while working as a team.  After a period of time, the lead bird drops to the rear of the formation and the second bird assumes the lead role.

Sometimes looking towards the natural world can emphasize the importance of working together to achieve a common goal.

The cruise works its way into Columbia Bay near the face of the Columbia Glacier.  Approaching the glacier, icebergs the size of houses surround the vessel making the 75-foot boat feel quite small.  Plenty of time is spent in the bay and the crew will even take photographs of couples in the bow of the boat with the glacier in the background.

Towards the end of the cruise, a Humpback Whale was spotted and Captain Fred shut down the engines to see if the whale would come closer.  Sure enough, it did, and we were rewarded with views of the whale breaching three times less than 100 yards away from the boat.  It was a great experience.  Here are some photos from the trip.

Unfortunately I didn't bring my skis - there were groomed trails everywhere and most people used skis to get around.  Restaurants and shops had racks outside for ski storage, and people even skied behind their dogs, a sport known as skijoring.

One of the highlights of the trip was meals at the Roadhouse.  The Roadhouse, built in 1917 is one of the oldest establishments in Talkeetna and was establish to serve as a lodging and dining facility for rail workers, miners, explorers and people passing through.  Their meals were incredible and had the best apple butter I have ever tasted.  They were supposed to start selling it online, but I haven't seen it yet.  I'll be sure to buy at least a case of it if and when it becomes available!

The main room in the Roadhouse is set up for relaxation - you can set up board games, play cards, or read countless books on every conceivable subject while enjoying a bottomless cup of strong coffee.  It's a great place to while a way an afternoon as the mercury drops.

The entire town is part of an historic district.  There's a small airport, access to the Susitna River and lots of great restaurants.  Here are a few images from the trip:

The wildlife viewing opportunities were amazing.  We encountered bears, moose, caribou, sheep, and a herd of buffaloes.  It's probably the closest one can come to a North American safari.  The scenery wasn't too shabby either.  Here are a few images;  I hope to get back to photograph more.

In Dutch Harbor, I spent most of my time photographing around the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area.  There are lots of photo opportunities there - the remnants of the forts, wildflowers, scenics, Bald Eagles, and the incoming fishing boats.  However, while there, some foxes took an interest to me and provided some memorable photographs and, frankly, a great source of entertainment.

While photographing the wildflowers in front of Mount Ballyhoo, I heard some commotion behind me.  I turned around and saw this little guy:

He was a bit skittish at first, but then seemed to warm up to me.  I didn't know how long he would stick around, so I put on a different lens and started to photograph him a bit more.  This expression put a smile on my face:

When I went back to photographing the wildflowers, my little friend must have been a little jealous and started to play with my tripod!

After a while, he must have gotten a little sleepy and took a nap right next to me.

It's quite a feeling knowing that a wild animal is comfortable enough in your presence to fall asleep.

After a short nap, a friend came along.

Immediately, the two foxes started running around and playing a fox-version of hide and seek!

The interaction with the foxes was a highlight of my trip, and was rewarded with one of my all-time favorite wildlife photographs:

There are often cliche-type photographs associated with lighthouses.  I live near Portland Head Lighthouse, and it's advertised as being the most photographed lighthouse in the US.  This is the typical vantage point that visitors often photograph the lighthouse:

There is no doubt that this is a beautiful and majestic scene that portrays the typical environment of lighthouses along the Maine coast.  Since I live close to this lighthouse, I enjoy visiting the area throughout the year to explore different vantage points and portraits of the lighthouse in different weather conditions.

Even though lighthouses may often be cliche-type images, they bring me joy and I look forward to other opportunities at Portland Head.  Here are a few images:

Today the Seward Highway runs along the Turnagain Arm and is a wonderful location for nature photography, particularly wildflowers since the south-facing slopes are the first to see the sun after the long winter.

One day in November I decided to take a drive along the highway to see what was happening.  The light was beautiful and it was past tourist season, so I practically had the highway to myself.  I stopped at a rest stop near Beluga Point, one of my normal stops, and decided to hike around a bit.  A few minutes after starting my hike I came across a group of ram and ewe Dall Sheep grazing along a ridge probably 50 feet or so above the highway.  I sat down as to minimize disrupting their behavior and within a few minutes they went about their normal business feeding along the ridge.  

I was fortunate to capture several photographs of the group and here is one of my favorites.  While photographing the sheep, there were Bald Eagles soaring overhead, and Beluga Whales in Turnagain Arm.  Good stuff.

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Clyde Butcher's gallery and viewing his large-format black-and-white prints.  Some of these prints were over 8 feet long and contained incredible detail.  Inspired by Clyde's work, I decided to try converting my images into black and white.

Here are a few of my memorable images: 

This project was inspired by Jim Brandenburg’s Chased by the Light, and I decided to set some limitations similar to what he did with his.  My limitations were:

-One roll of film (Portra 400, 36 exposures)

-One camera (Nikon F65)

-One lens (Nikon 28-70mm zoom)

-One picture per day - one click of the shutter

-One location (Greensprings nature trail in Williamsburg Virginia)

There was no second chance and no instant feedback that I had become so reliant on with digital technology.  It didn’t take long to discover the incredible element of mystery that would accompany me on this journey.

With this project, I hoped to go deeper - beyond the predictable and aesthetically “pretty” picture to slow down and serve as a reminder to take a closer look at the natural world and what is hidden in plain sight.

Going through this book has inspired me to start thinking about another film project.  Stay tuned.

Here are all the photos from the project:

One of my most influential photographers, Eliot Porter, has devoted many books to the subject, and I particularly admire how he took the time and attention to emphasize these quiet scenes that can be found virtually everywhere.  I decided to look back at all the places we have been stationed and put together six images of some of the more subtle aspects of the natural world.  To me, they are no less fascinating and inspiring than some of the iconic scenes so commonly photographed.  Here are six images from New Jersey, Maine, Virginia, Alaska, Connecticut, and Puerto Rico.

The FZ300 is a very enjoyable camera to use and excels at macro photography, especially if paired with my Raynox 150 macro lens.  If I encounter any landscapes that are beyond the capability of the FZ300, I have the RX100 in my hip bag.  Sony came up with a gem of a camera with the RX100 series.  The Zeiss lens and 1" sensor in a pocketable camera produce some wonderful photos.

In the hip pack, I carry a small notebook, a bug net, a water bottle, filters (polarizers and Raynox), and spare batteries.  There's plenty of room for a few snacks or a small lunch.  Sometimes traveling light is more liberating and shifts the emphasis from photography to enjoying time spent in nature.

This summer has been quite the rainy summer too, so hopefully, all that moisture will translate to vibrant fall colors!

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey or become prey themselves.

 Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 8/31/21 with new images

Habitat

When I am out in search of wildlife, I always try to photograph each area's unique habitat.  After all, without suitable habitat, wildlife simply cannot survive.  Here are some photographs of different habitats throughout the park:

Birds

According to the guide from the Great Florida Birding Trail, 211 species of birds have been identified in the park.  The most common birds I came across were Great Blue Herons, Limpkins, Tricolor Herons, Green Herons, Anhingas, Catbirds, Cardinals, Common Moorhens, Redwing Blackbirds, and White Ibises.  It appears as the birds were accustomed to human presence, making it somewhat easy for photography.  Here are some bird images:

Reptiles

When people want to come along with me on a photographic wander, I usually advise against it.  Usually they think that I may hike too quickly, leaving them behind.  In fact, it's the exact opposite.  When I have a camera in hand, I slow way down.  Too slowly for most people.  I'll take a couple of steps, stop and listen for several minutes, and if I find a spot that looks like it will be conducive for a wildlife encounter, I'll find a spot and sit - sometimes for several hours.  Moving slowly and observing closely are key to finding certain species of wildlife - reptiles in particular.  The nice thing about reptile photography is that if the animal is comfortable with your presence, they usually will stay quite still, especially in the morning hours while they are trying to absorb the sun's energy.  Reptiles and amphibians are often overlooked when it comes to nature photography, and it's unfortunate - they make wonderful subjects and are quite interesting.

Sawgrass Lake Park is home to several Gopher Tortoises, a threatened species.  I was looking all over the interior of the park for some with no luck.  When I came back to the car to grab my lunch, there one was - right in the picnic area!  Here are some of the reptiles I came across:

Insects

Like reptiles, insects are often overlooked.  When I lived in Connecticut, I became very interested in photographing Dragonflies.  Dragonflies are usually most active when the sun is out, and that will allow plenty of light for photography, which is quite helpful considering the long focal lengths often needed to avoid scaring them off.  Here are some dragonflies:

This park truly fascinated me.  I spent four consecutive mornings and afternoons there and barely scratched the surface of discovering the natural wonders within its boundaries.  I came across several spots that would be fun to spend an entire morning just sitting and observing.  If you ever find yourself in the Tampa area and want a little peace and quiet, head on over to the park and enjoy experiencing what Florida must have looked like hundreds of years ago.

For more photos of Sawgrass Lake and some shorebirds in Fort DeSoto Park, click on my Recent Work page.

Shoot in RAW format, if possible

RAW images provide more flexibility in post-processing than JPEG images allowing for enhanced dynamic range, changeable white balance settings, and more flexibility with noise reduction.  Being larger files, they will take up more space on your memory card and may limit things like burst rate capability, creative mode settings, and enhanced zoom settings.  If your camera does not support RAW, don’t worry, you may just have to do some experimenting to find out your camera’s ideal settings.  For example, many Panasonic compact camera users have mentioned that the default noise reduction is too aggressive resulting in smeared details, and dialing it back in the Photo Style menu produces more pleasing results.  Some compact cameras default JPEGs boost saturation and contrast, so reducing them in-camera may give you more latitude in post-processing.

Keep the camera at base ISO whenever possible

Although compact digital cameras are getting better and better, try not to boost ISO beyond its base setting.  This may pose a challenge for wildlife photography in low lighting conditions, so do some experimenting to see how your camera performs in real-world conditions with different ISOs.  With my Panasonic FZ300, I prefer to keep it below ISO 800 for best results.  Keeping your camera at its base ISO may require using a tripod in certain situations, which although may be less convenient, will produce higher-quality images than hand-holding the camera at higher ISOs.

Beware of reduced dynamic range

Cameras with smaller sensors do not have the dynamic range (range of lights to darks) that larger sensor cameras do.  There are a few things that may help with this:

-Dial in a small amount of exposure compensation.  I typically have -1/3 exposure compensation for my normal photo setting to protect the highlights from being blown out.  My FZ300 has a ‘Zebra’ setting that allows me to see the areas that are blown out, and I can dial back the exposure even more if necessary.

-Use a polarizer. A polarizer filter is traditionally used to cut down on glare and reflections in a scene and to increase saturation, particularly in the sky.  They can also help with taming the contrast in high dynamic range scenes.  Polarizers can be adjusted, so by rotating the filer you can achieve the effect you desire.

-Merge exposures.  Many post-processing software programs feature an exposure merge or HDR feature.  I have found that bracketing exposures of -2/3, 0, and +2/3 can help increase the overall dynamic range of your scene.

Post Processing Strategies

Images from a small sensor camera might need additional care with post-processing software.  The following has helped me tremendously:

Selective noise reduction and/or sharpening

If your editing software has the ability to ‘brush on’ noise reduction or sharpening, this can help improve the ultimate quality of the image.  Very often noise is most visible in skies, so applying noise reduction only in the sky area can help.  There’s no real need to sharpen a sky either, so by limiting the sharpening to other areas (either with sharpening masks or sharpening brushes) you can improve the image.

Low light images

Shooting RAW I set my ISO limit to 1600.  I prefer to keep it below 800 but found that by using RAW I can get away with images as high as 1600.  This is very helpful in low light conditions, but they need some special treatment.  I have found that Lightroom’s default ‘Indoors and Low Light Sharpening’ setting is a good starting point. 

Learn from Others

Check the web for resources available for your specific camera.  There are many sites dedicated to Sony’s RX100 series of cameras, and Graham Houghton and my friend Bob Armstrong have published numerous resources and videos on the Panasonic FZ series of cameras.

Evaluate the Print, not Pixels

When viewed on a computer monitor at 100%, images from a compact digital camera will not look nearly as good compared to larger sensor cameras.  However, when prints are made and viewed at normal viewing distances, compact cameras can make some wonderful prints.  I’ve made 16x20-inch prints from a 10 megapixel Canon S95 that look fantastic.

Compact digital cameras have many advantages including enhanced depth of field (ideal for scenic and close-up photography), lightweight, silent shutters, and versatile zoom ranges.  Some cameras can shoot 4K video and 4K photo bursts of 30 frames per second at any shutter speed.  For what is asked of some of these cameras, they do a respectable job and are often my choice when wandering around in nature.

Can you spot the alligator?

24 mm equivalent

Here he is!!

1200 mm equivalent

While no camera system is perfect, I find myself grabbing my super-zoom camera when out photographing in nature.  They have several distinct advantages:

• They are extremely light

I can hike all day long through challenging terrain and conditions and hardly notice my 21-ounce camera.  All of its accessories fit in a small camera bag and I can place that bag along with lunch, my rain jacket, etc. in a small backpack.

• Extensive depth of field

The small 1/2.3" sensor allows for great depths of field making close-up and macro photography much easier.  Often I like to depict elements of nature within their natural habitat and environment.  The small sensor cameras make it ideal - here's an example:

This mushroom is only a couple of inches tall.  Photographing this with a D-SLR would have rendered the background completely out of focus.

• Impressive stabilization

These little cameras have very good image stabilization systems.  Here is an example of a handheld shot at 1000 mm equivalent at 1/60 second.  Not too shabby!

• Easy to maneuver 

When I lived in Connecticut, I had a favorite bird photography spot along the edge of a salt marsh.  Getting to this spot was quite an undertaking.  I had to thread myself through patches of thorn bushes and overhanging brush.  Once there, I didn't have much room to work with and maneuver around.  Having a small camera on a small tripod made it much easier to negotiate a smaller area.

• Silent shutter

I really enjoy photographing birds on a feeder.  With my previous setup, the feeder was about ten feet away from the open window in which I photographed.  A loud shutter would have certainly scared many birds away.

• Working distance

Having a large working distance from your subject is important.  Many times if you try and approach an animal be it a bird, mammal, or insect, it will usually flee.  Perhaps even more important is avoiding altering the animal's natural behavior.  Many animals have a hard time merely surviving, so giving them space is important.

Using a super-zoom allowed me plenty of working distance with this resting Plover.  These little guys expend so much energy during migration and refueling, and being able to photograph it from a distance allowed it to rest.

All-in-all, super-zoom cameras are a lot of fun to use.  Here are some of my memorable photographs taken with super-zooms:

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey, or become prey themselves.

Here are a couple of photographs from the project.  Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 8/15/21 with new images

There are many books, articles and tutorials about wildlife photography.  Here are a few tips I have learned - many of them were taught to me by Alaskan naturalist and photographer Bob Armstrong.  You can check out his wonderful website here.  

• Learn behavior and biology

​Put down the camera, forget photography websites/forums, and pick up a book on animals, thumb through a field guide, watch a nature documentary, or talk with others about wildlife.  Take the time to learn about the species you'd like to photograph - behavior, feeding patterns, habitat, mating rituals, migratory patterns, etc.  The more knowledge you acquire, the more successful your photographic efforts will be and, perhaps more importantly, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for wildlife.  This relates directly to the next point:

• Focus on environment and habitat

​All animals need food, water, shelter, and a safe place to rear their young.  Many times, locating the species of wildlife you want to photograph is largely a matter of identifying the right habitat, and spending time there observing and waiting at different times of day to become familiar with wildlife activity.

Freshwater pond

Freshwater Pond

Salt Marsh

Salt Marsh

• Stalking vs. waiting

​In order to survive, all species of wildlife has, over time, developed very keen senses (hearing, vision, smell, etc.).  When you are out photographing, chances are very high that wildlife will see, hear or smell you first, and might even let out a warning call to others that there is potential danger.  I've had much better luck sitting and waiting in a particular area rather than wandering around trying to spot wildlife.  This relates directly to the above two points - if you know behavior, biology, environment, and habitat, you can put yourself in the most likely spot for a wildlife encounter.  One of my favorite places to photograph are salt marshes.  I've been to several that have viewing platforms and boardwalks and I've had much greater success waiting and observing as opposed to walking around the marsh trying to sneak up on wildlife.  

Waiting for beach marmots with Bob Armstrong

Waiting for beach marmots with Bob Armstrong in Juneau, Alaska.

• Time of day

​I can't tell you how many times I have read that you should only photograph wildlife in the so-called "golden light" around sunrise and sunset.  If I had listened to that, I'd probably would have missed 90% of my most memorable wildlife encounters and photographs.  Wildlife activity can occur at any time of the day, and when I am out in nature, I try to be ready at all times.

Sparring Bulls

Photograph captured just before noon.

• Know when not to take the photograph

​I think it's important to learn when it's not appropriate to take a photograph of wildlife.  I try and use good judgement when contemplating photographing wildlife during certain situations (feeding, mating, with young, while sleeping, etc.).  Many animals have a hard time merely surviving, and sometimes the memory in your mind is better than an image produced by your camera.  

Giving this Grebe plenty of room while she's on her nest

Giving this Grebe plenty of room while she's on her nest.

"Located on the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico in the Greater Antilles group, the El Yunque National Forest is the sole tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System. The forest’s relatively small 28, 000 acre size belies its importance. It differs significantly from all the other U.S. National Forests because of its year-round tropical climate and immense biodiversity.

The rugged Luquillo Mountains that rise to 3,533 ft. above sea level comprise most of the forest land. Their steep slopes can sometimes receive rainfall of over 200 inches (508 centimeters) per year at higher elevations. Caressed by gentle easterly winds the forest has an average temperature of 73° F (21° C), and seasonal changes are almost imperceptible. It is the ideal climate for exuberant tropical vegetation. The rain forest is noted for its biodiversity; it is “home” to thousands of native plants including 150 fern species, 240 tree species (88 of these are endemic or rare and 23 are exclusively found in this forest). The El Yunque National Forest has no large wildlife species, but hundreds of smaller animals abound in this gentle forest, many of which exist nowhere else on the planet."

A visit to Puerto Rico is not complete without a visit to the forest.  Located approximately one hour from the San Juan, El Yunque offers many hiking, birdwatching, and swimming opportunities.  One of my favorite trails is the El Yunque Trail which starts from the Palo Colorado visitors center and climbs over 1500 feet to the summit of El Yunque peak, the highest point of the park.  The summit is usually shrouded in mist that feels quite refreshing after an uphill hike.

El Yunque can get very crowded, particularly during the main tourist season from November through March.  Arriving early is a must to secure a parking spot and avoiding the theme-park like crowds that occur on the more popular trails.

Here are a few of my memorable photographs of El Yunque National Forest:

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey, or become prey themselves.

Here are a couple of photographs from the project.  Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 5/15/21 with new images

Photographing harbors is just like photographing landscapes - light, lines, colors, textures, and patterns can all come together to make interesting photographs.  Here are some harbors in the Caribbean, Alaska, Connecticut, and Texas.

St. Thomas

What kind of background do you want?  Do you want it to look natural or are you solely interested in documenting species?

How does the light change throughout the day on your setup?

Where are you going to photograph from?  If you can’t photograph from inside your house, you may be able to set up a backyard blind.

When you are constructing your station, you can make it as elaborate or as simple as you’d like.  Here is one example of what I have used in the past:

The food is placed in a small container in between the two big logs I used for bases.  I also had spread “Bark Butter” (a suet-based mixture of nuts and seeds) in a couple of locations, and it worked quite well.  At this setup, I had cardinals, sparrows, chickadees, tufted titmouse, blue jays, wrens, woodpeckers, grey catbirds, and of course, squirrels and chipmunks (more on this in a bit).  

It took a couple of weeks for the birds to get used to and become comfortable with the setup.  I had already been using regular feeders in my backyard, so perhaps that was an advantage.  During those couple of weeks I just observed the birds’ behavior instead of immediately trying to photograph them.  I found that the birds would often land on one of the higher branches, pause for a second or two, drop down to the food, pick up some food and either fly away or return to one of the top branches and eat.  So, when setting up to photograph them, I would prefocus on one of the top branches and wait.  Eventually I got rid of the vertical branch, which limited even further the possible landing areas, and that increased my success tremendously.

I photographed from inside my house (my bathroom) and was quite close to the station.  To minimize the chance of scaring the birds, I kept the lights in the bathroom out and turned off all camera sounds (shutter, focus lock, and the beep that occurred when pressing any of the buttons).  I used a tripod and had the camera positioned where I wanted to photograph.  Initially, I was ‘chasing’ the birds with my camera, but it wasn’t until I concentrated on a particular area that my success rate increased.  There can be a flurry of activity at your feeder and sometimes you’re better off concentrating your photographic efforts on one location.

Pretty soon you’ll have to face the fact that you are going to have other visitors to your setup besides your new feathered friends.  Squirrels and chipmunks can wipe out the food at your station surprisingly fast.  You have a couple of options - you can just deal with it and keep replenishing the seed, or you can put out a dedicated squirrel and chipmunk feeder.  I decided on the latter and it was a lot of fun.  I used dried corn and peanuts and it did a nice job in keeping them away from the bird seed (Although the blue jays took a liking to the peanuts).  These guys have to eat too and you can often get nice portrait photographs while they are feeding.

If you live near a store that specializes in selling bird seed and feeders, it’s worth it to pay them a visit.  They can provide you with information on local species and give you tips on what types of seed or other foods to use.  If you don’t have one near you, check out your local park - naturalists are usually on hand and can be a great help.

Feeders are great because you can photograph anytime you want and is the perfect place to test out new equipment or techniques.  They are also a source of entertainment; sometimes its fun to watch the interactions of birds at the feeder and observe the different species that visit as the seasons change.

When we visited the park in the summer of 2013, we stayed at a resort in Caneel Bay - the only facility allowed within the boundaries of the park.  The resort's grounds were home to a wide variety of wildflowers, deer, birds, and donkeys.  The donkeys were brought to the island to help with the sugar cane industry.

A snorkeler's paradise, Virgin Islands National Park is home to many coral reefs, tropical fish and sea turtles.  When we were snorkeling, it was not uncommon to see a dozen or so feeding in the bay.

Here are a few of my memorable photographs of the park:

Glaciers are always in motion.  Every few minutes, you'll hear a thunderous boom and witness chunks of the glacier (some the size of cars, others the size of large ships) calve off and plunge into the water.

One of the most impressive sights is to witness a shooter iceberg.  A shooter is when a piece of ice breaks off underwater and comes shooting up to the surface, much like a surfacing submarine.  A shooter sounds different - it's almost like a guttural sound emanating from the glacier, and then you see a wave appear as the iceberg nears the surface.  Here is a photo of one - this particular shooter probably rose over 200 feet in the air before settling to the surface.  It was a truly awesome spectacle.

By its nature, photography forces one to slow down and observe, and I believe the integration of writing and imagery will prove to deepen the experience of nature.

One of the most enjoyable trips we have done was taking the Alaska State Ferry from Haines, Alaska to Bellingham, Washington.  The Alaska State Ferry system travels throughout coastal Alaska and can access areas that larger cruise ships cannot safely navigate.  We lucked out and were able to obtain a cabin, but more adventurous travelers can camp out underneath the heated solarium or pitch a tent on deck (with a lot of duct tape!).

However, a cruise is also a wonderful way to travel.  There's nothing quite like getting up before sunset, grabbing a cup of coffee and wandering the decks in search of scenics to photograph.  Here are a few of my memorable photographs of Alaska's Inside Passage:

We had the opportunity to spend a long weekend there while we were living in Anchorage.  Getting to Dutch Harbor is interesting - our flight had to stop at Cold Bay (a town on Alaska's mainland) to pick up more fuel in case of fog at Dutch Harbor.  The extra fuel is needed to be able to return to Anchorage.

Once on the ground and settled in, Dutch Harbor was a wonderful place to explore and photograph.  One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area.  From the website:

"During World War II the remote Aleutian Islands, home to the Unangan (Aleut) people for over 8,000 years, became a fiercely contested battleground in the Pacific. This thousand-mile-long archipelago saw invasion by Japanese forces, the only American soil occupied in the war; a mass internment of American civilians; a 15-month air war; and one of the deadliest battles in the Pacific Theater."

At the Historic Area there were plenty of photographic opportunities - wildlife, wildflowers and scenics.  We were quite lucky - there were only a few showers.  In a land dubbed "The Birthplace of Storms", it was perfect.  Here are a few of my memorable photographs:

It was an honor having one of my images selected for Lenswork Magazine's Our Magnificent Planet.  Here is the story behind the image:

El Yunque Rainforest is the only tropical rainforest in the US Forest System.  Located about one hour east of San Juan, El Yunque is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

I was hiking the El Yunque trail heading up to the summit of El Yunque peak.  It’s a 2-mile trail with about 1500 ft of elevation gain.  It was a cloudy morning, but as I approached the halfway point to the summit, the clouds parted and these remarkable sunbeams came shining through the forest.

I had my pocket camera attached to my backpack, and I immediately took it out and captured a couple of photos.  I’m glad it was easily accessible – the light show only lasted about a minute.

Even if I have a ‘serious’ camera with me, I’ll always bring my pocket camera for moments like this.  If my other camera was buried in my pack, there’s no way I would have captured this moment.

Always be ready – you never know what nature has in store for you.

-Sig Olson

Photo by A. Hangar

Many of my most memorable photographic outings in Alaska have been with a dear friend Bob Armstrong.  Bob has written and photographed all aspects of nature in Alaska since 1960.  Click here for his wonderful website.  He has worked as a fisheries biologist and research supervisor for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and as an associate professor for the University of Alaska where he taught courses in fisheries and ornithology.

I met Bob in the summer of 2007 when I moved to Alaska.  My wife and I were visiting Juneau and I was wandering around Steep Creek photographing a bear family.  We struck up a conversation and he graciously offered to show me some other photographic locations.  We met up each day that week and spent several hours photographing birds, plant life, and the bear family.

Bob is always willing to share his vast knowledge of natural history and I have learned so much from him, and I am truly grateful.  Thanks Bob, for everything.

Here are a few memorable photographs that I have made with Bob's help:

There's nothing quite like waking up to fresh snowfall, grabbing a coffee from Kaladi and heading out to the trails to photograph the natural wonders of winter in Alaska.  Now that we are in Maine, I am looking forward to more winter outings.  Here are a few of my memorable winter photographs:

Colonial Williamsburg is a photographer's paradise with unlimited subjects - the animals, people in period costumes, the architecture, colonial trades, but what inspired me was photographing the area throughout the seasons.  This was an on-going project for me and hope to develop it further.

Celebrating the arrival of autumn, here are some images strolling through Colonial Williamsburg in fall.

In addition to nature photography, I really enjoy photographing lighthouses.  For generations, lighthouses have guided mariners towards safe harbors or warned of dangerous shores, and keepers of the lights have saved countless lives from shipwrecks and other tragedies.  Ida Lewis, the keeper of Lime Rock in Rhode Island, is credited for saving 18 lives over a 39-year period.  Every lighthouse and its keepers can tell tales of courage, reliability, and heroism.  

My favorite time to photograph lighthouses is during storms or periods of inclement weather.  It was during this type of weather that lighthouses became beacons of salvation for the mariners in need.  When the weather turned foul, the keeper's steadfast dedication to duty in keeping the light shining hour after hour kept many ships safe and away from harm.

Here are a few of my favorite lighthouse photographs:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The harbors of Rockport and Fulton are wonderful to stroll around.  In addition to the bait shacks, the harbors are home to the local commercial fishing fleets and the whooping crane tours.

These images were intially edited in Lightroom, then exported to PhotoSketcher, which renders them as seen here.

Moose certainly deserve respect however.  Imagine driving down the street or riding your bike on a trail and encountering a horse right up close.  That’s pretty much the size of them and the males (or bulls) with their enormous antlers appear much larger.  Also, the bulls get kind of cranky around mating time and females (or cows) get extremely protective of their young in the spring.

Nevertheless, it’s a lot of fun to photograph these majestic animals.  In our three years in Anchorage, I was very fortunate to be able to photograph moose in their natural habitat, their behavior, and just enjoy their presence.

If you are interested in photographing moose in Anchorage, here are my favorite spots, all easily accessible within the city limits:

Kincaid Park

Far North Bicentennial Park

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

Chugach State Park

Here are some of my memorable moose photographs:

It's been fun trying different renditions of the image and different papers.  Each image is unique, and recently I started printing them on 5x7 greeting cards to send to people.  Here are a few of my results:

Magnolia Gardens Magnolia Gardens Magnolia Gardens Magnolia Gardens

I find it a bit more challenging to photograph wildlife this way.  Basically you have to combine all the challenges of wildlife photography with the challenges of landscape photography.  Often times, the animal is a relatively small part of a bigger picture, and can be enjoyable composing the photograph.

I was in Juneau in July of 2009 and was out photographing with Bob Armstrong, a dear friend and a wonderful photographer and naturalist.  Bob has spent over 50 years photographing and documenting Alaska’s natural history and is a wealth of information.  You can find his website here, and be prepared to be amazed! 

I mentioned to him that I would really enjoy photographing a black bear with Mendenhall Glacier in the background.  He took me to one of his favorite spots and within the hour a bear appeared and began fishing.  Even though this bear is brownish in color, it is still a black bear (Ursus americanus).  Black bears can be black, brown, cinnamon, or on rare occasions white or cream colored known as a Kermode or Spirit Bear.

We observed and photographed this bear for 15 or 20 minutes before it wandered down the creek in search of more salmon.  It was a wonderful experience and photographing wildlife within their natural habitat has become one of my favorite aspects of enjoying our beautiful natural world.

Recently, I started using pastels and pastel pencils to hand color some of my photographs, and it has been an enjoyable connection to the history of photography and I find joy in creating unique images to share.

Handcolor Process

Introduced in 1900, the Kodak Brownie was aimed at getting people interested in photography and sold for $1.00, which included film and processing.  Essentially a cardboard box with a plastic lens, this simple design revolutionized photography and allowed people from all walks of life to enjoy taking pictures.

My Brownie, the Hawkeye Flash Model, was introduced in the 1950s.  Retaining the same simplicity as its earlier design, the Hawkeye Flash features a Bakelite plastic body, a rudimentary viewfinder, and the ability to use a flash.

Using this camera in the age of digital technology has been somewhat of a breath of fresh air, and taps into a creative spark that I find quite enjoyable.  Along the way it has reinforced some life lessons that continue to have an impact on my photography and day-to-day life.

Life Lesson #1 - Simplicity

Kodak Brownie cameras couldn’t be simpler - to take a picture, just compose your subject and press the shutter button, which is the only control on the camera.  No need to worry about complex electronic or mechanical elements.

In life the simple moments are the things to be treasured.  A walk on the beach, a dog wagging its tail, time spent with friends and loved ones.  The simple joys of life, often overlooked, are what’s truly important. 

Life Lesson #2 - Limitations

There is no zoom, no settings dial, the image seen in the viewfinder doesn’t exactly line up with the lens, and no focus control whatsoever.  Not too many options with this camera.  However, these limitations can enhance creativity since creative projects often thrive on constraints.

We all have limits to what we can or cannot do, but that shouldn’t prevent us from pursuing whatever it is that speaks to our soul.  As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Do the best you can with what you have where you are.”

Life Lesson #3 - Blemishes

With today’s technology even the simplest of cameras deliver image quality only dreamed of decades ago.  Photos from the Brownie often have out of focus elements, lens flare, and light leaks that, depending on your perspective, either ruin a picture or give it something unique.  I like to think of them as having character and being perfectly imperfect.

Wabi-sabi, a traditional Japanese aesthetic, is a beauty described as “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”.  A well-worn jacket or a pair of jeans, an old wooden boat, or a dog-eared copy of a favorite book cannot compare to pristine new versions, and lack that “special something," which often grabs our hearts.

Life Lesson #4 - Acceptance

I do not have the element of control with this camera like I do with my other cameras.  Given all the unique elements to the Brownie camera and its resulting photographs, it has been a welcome feeling to accept its limitations and be genuinely happy about the final results.

Accepting the fact that there are things that are beyond your control can help deal with challenging circumstances.  Instead, we can focus on what we can control and how we react to those elements beyond our control.

Life Lesson #5 - Process, not outcome

Using the Brownie on several photographic projects has reinforced that it is the photographic process, not the resulting photographs that I value most.  The wanderings, the time spent with friends and family, and enjoying the natural world is what brings me joy.

As the proverb states, it is the journey, not the destination that is important.  Henry David Thoreau’s poignant quote sums it up nicely: “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish that they are after.”

-John Muir

Alaska has some pretty impressive wildlife and visitors may encounter moose, bear, Dall sheep, wolves, and if on the water, seals, sea lions and several different species of whales.  Encounters with these dramatic species of wildlife can provide lifelong memories that inspire awe and splendor.

Less known but certainly no less impressive is the American Dipper, North America's only true aquatic songbird.  A little smaller than the Robin, the Dipper has always amazed me in its ability to thrive in challenging environments.  

In the winter, I would frequently grab my camera and explore local trails along Campbell Creek in Anchorage.  Many times I would encounter these little birds darting around underwater in search of food.  Their call can brighten up the gloomiest of winter days and bring back memories of spring.  Ten, fifteen, or twenty below, the American Dipper would always add warmth and brightness to my day.

If you have never heard its melodious song, click here.

Throughout the seasons there are always interesting photographic opportunities.  In springtime, flowering dogwoods resembling popcorn speckle the roadsides, summer brings out the wildflowers in all their glory, autumn colors rival New England's and winter sunrises and sunsets make you forget about the cold.

Here are a few of my memorable photographs along the Colonial Parkway:

It was more difficult that I expected.  Photographing flowers is certainly a test of patience.  Every little breath of wind resembled a hurricane when looking at the flowers through the viewfinder.  Portable reflectors and strategically placed ball caps come in handy as a temporary wind blocks, but inevitably I would have to wait for quite some time for the wind to calm down.  It was also a time to reflect on how lucky I was to experience the wilderness of Alaska.  

To keep things simple, I used one lens - a macro lens.  It was a lot of fun experimenting with different depths-of-field.  Stopped down and every detail of the flower comes to life, and shot wide open, a lovely rose is turned into an impressionistic painting. 

This was a great project and opened my eyes to a beautiful world right at my feet.

"It's a magic kind of medicine no doctor can prescribe."

-Jimmy Buffett

Took my first paddle of the season yesterday, and in light of all that's going on, worked wonders on my soul.  Looking forward to many more.

Life Lesson #5 - Process, Not Outcome

Using the Brownie on several photographic projects has reinforced that it is the photographic process, not the resulting photographs that I value most.  The wanderings, the time spent with friends and family, and enjoying the natural world is what brings me joy.

As the proverb states, it is the journey, not the destination that is important.  Henry David Thoreau’s poignant quote sums it up nicely: “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish that they are after.”

Life Lesson #4 - Acceptance

I do not have the element of control with this camera like I do with my other cameras.  Given all the unique elements to the Brownie camera and its resulting photographs, it has been a welcome feeling to accept its limitations and be genuinely happy about the final results.

Accepting the fact that there are things that are beyond your control can help deal with challenging circumstances.  Instead, we can focus on what we can control and how we react to those elements beyond our control.

Life Lesson #3 - Blemishes

With today’s technology even the simplest of cameras deliver image quality only dreamed of decades ago.  Photos from the Brownie often have out of focus elements, lens flare, and light leaks that, depending on your perspective, either ruin a picture or give it something unique.  I like to think of them as having character and being perfectly imperfect.

Wabi-sabi, a traditional Japanese aesthetic, is a beauty described as “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”.  A well-worn jacket or a pair of jeans, an old wooden boat, or a dog-eared copy of a favorite book cannot compare to pristine new versions, and lack that “special something," which often grabs our hearts.

Life Lesson #2 - Limitations

There is no zoom, no settings dial, the image seen in the viewfinder doesn’t exactly line up with the lens, and no focus control whatsoever.  Not too many options with this camera.  However, these limitations can enhance creativity since creative projects often thrive on constraints.

We all have limits to what we can or cannot do, but that shouldn’t prevent us from pursuing whatever it is that speaks to our soul.  As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Do the best you can with what you have where you are.”

Life Lesson #1 - Simplicity

Kodak Brownie cameras couldn’t be simpler - to take a picture, just compose your subject and press the shutter button, which is the only control on the camera.  No need to worry about complex electronic or mechanical elements.

In life the simple moments are the things to be treasured.  A walk on the beach, a dog wagging its tail, time spent with friends and loved ones.  The simple joys of life, often overlooked, are what’s  truly important. 

Introduced in 1900, the Kodak Brownie was aimed at getting people interested in photography and sold for $1.00, which included film and processing.  Essentially a cardboard box with a plastic lens, this simple design revolutionized photography and allowed people from all walks of life to enjoy taking pictures.

My Brownie, the Hawkeye Flash Model, was introduced in the 1950s.  Retaining the same simplicity as its earlier design, the Hawkeye Flash features a Bakelite plastic body, a rudimentary viewfinder, and the ability to use a flash.

Using this camera in the age of digital technology has been somewhat of a breath of fresh air, and taps into a creative spark that I find quite enjoyable.  Along the way it has reinforced some life lessons that continue to have an impact on my photography and day-to-day life.

That, according to the latest survey, is the number of Whooping Cranes living in the wild.  Recovering from a low of twenty-one in the 1940s, Whooping Cranes are North America’s tallest bird standing up to five feet tall and sporting a wingspan that can reach seven and one-half feet.

Two separate migratory populations summer in northwestern Canada and central Wisconsin and spend their winters along Texas’ Gulf Coast and other parts of southeastern U.S.

It was in the Gulf Coast of Texas that I had one of my most memorable wildlife encounters, and practically in the comfort of home.  My wife and I were visiting her parents in Rockport Texas, and one day while sitting on the back porch, we heard the telltale rusty door-like trumpet of a Whooping Crane.  Thinking it was going to pass overhead, I was astonished that they landed in the marsh area that is practically in their back yard.  I rushed to grab my camera and was even more amazed when it wasn’t just one, but a trio – two adults and a juvenile!  They quickly discovered and ate a couple of snakes each and spent about thirty minutes in the marsh before flying off.

It was challenging photography to say the least.  The light was low, they were far off, I didn’t have a tripod, and the images technically weren’t all that great.  But that’s ok.  A clear picture in the mind and in the heart is far better than any photograph.

We would frequently drive the Seward Highway in the fall to enjoy the scenery.  By this time, the tourists have made their way down south making travel on the highway more enjoyable.  Bird Creek is a popular fishing location, but on this day we were the only ones there.  Aside from the occasional passing car, it felt as though we were deep in the wilderness.

Autumn is my favorite time to photograph.  It is a time of preparation, for the winter is quickly approaching.  But more importantly, for me, it is a time to slow down and enjoy the art of Mother Nature.

‘Twixt the roots of the sod, the blades of marshgrass stir;

Passeth, and all is still; and the currents cease to run;

And the sea and marsh are one.”

The Marshes of Glynn, Sidney Lanier

Mentioning wetlands often conjures up images of dank, insect-ridden areas that serve no useful purpose.  However, the more time you spend in wetlands, the more you’ll notice the magic and wonder of one of nature’s most valuable ecosystems.

From the Everglades to Alaska, wetlands in the form of marshes, bogs, swamps, and floodplain forests are home to a tremendous variety of birds, reptiles, insects, fish, mammals, plants and trees, making it the most biologically diverse ecosystem on earth.  Forty three percent of endangered wildlife species rely on wetlands either directly or indirectly for their survival.

Wetlands are a wonderful place to spend time with a camera.  Whether you are interested in wildlife or landscape photography, you will surely never tire of the opportunities that present themselves.

Here are some photographs of some of the memorable wetland experiences I have been fortunate to witness. 

They are impressive animals, with males reaching 6 feet tall and weighing up to 1,600 pounds.  Every spring, cows give birth to calves, and when out and about, one must be aware at all times.  Cows can become very aggressive in protecting their young, and deserve enormous respect.

I was out photographing at a local park in Anchorage, when out in the distance saw a cow moose with her calves.  I was in an open area and stopped to allow plenty of distance in between us.  She noticed me, but continued about her business. 

After about an hour, they moved closer to me.  I was continually looking around, making sure that I had an exit in case she became upset.  The calves continued to play with each other, and Mom decided it was time for a nap.  About 50 yards in front of me, she laid down and took a short snooze.

A short while later, she stood up and moved closer.  I was getting concerned.  She definitely knew I was there – they would glance in my direction every couple of minutes.  After coming within 25 yards (that felt like 25 feet!), the calves decided they were hungry and nursed.  It was a tremendous experience witnessing everything.  After the calves had their share, the family wandered off leaving me with wonderful memories.

I have often thought of why she wasn’t bothered with my presence.  Perhaps being a busy park, the moose there are used to human encounters and didn’t feel threatened with me.  One of the most important things I’ve learned about wildlife photography, along with patience, is to resist the urge to approach your subject.  I’ve had much greater success of staying in one spot and let the animal continue with its natural behavior. 

Here are a few images from that outing:  

To me, photography is much more than creating images – it’s about opening up all of my senses and becoming receptive to the beauty of the natural world.

This is a quote from Sig Olson.  I was on a trip through the Tracy Arm in southeast Alaska.  One of the stops was South Sawyer Glacier.  When we got somewhat close to the glacier (you have to keep your distance in case of a calving), the captain shut down the engine so we could observe and listen to the glacier. 

Behind the image: El Yunque Rainforest

El Yunque Rainforest is the only tropical rainforest in the US Forest system.  Located about one hour east of San Juan, El Yunque is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

I was hiking the El Yunque trail heading up to the summit of El Yunque peak.  It’s a 2-mile trail with about 1500 ft of elevation gain.  It was a cloudy morning, but as I approached the halfway point to the summit, the clouds parted and these remarkable sunbeams came shining through the forest.

I had my pocket camera attached to my backpack, and I immediately took it out and captured a couple of photos.  I’m glad it was easily accessible – the lightshow only lasted about a minute.

Even if I have a ‘serious’ camera with me, I’ll always bring my pocket camera for moments like this.  If my other camera was buried in my pack, there’s no way I would have captured this moment.

Always be ready – you never know what nature has in store for you.

-Treasures of Alaska, National Geographic

The Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska stretches from Yakutat in the north to Portland Canal, just outside of Ketchikan encompassing 17 million acres making it the largest national forest in the United States, and the largest remaining temperate rainforest left on earth.

Gathering moisture in the Gulf of Alaska encounters warm, moist air from southern latitudes, and, moving onshore, the moisture rises and condenses resulting in a nearly ever-present rain that ranges from 29 inches per year in Skagway to over 160 inches in Ketchikan.

However, you wouldn’t believe that by looking at tourist brochures.  Instead, you’ll inevitably find crystal clear blue skies with puffy white clouds and sun-sparkled waters resembling a vacation paradise.

While those days do occur from time to time, this is a land made of rain.  It is this rain that feeds the salmon streams, forms glaciers and created one of the most mysterious and beautiful places in the world.

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey, or become prey themselves.

Here are a couple of photographs from the project.  Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 5/15/21 with new images

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey, or become prey themselves.

Here are a couple of photographs from the project.  Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 5/12/19 with new images

There are no controls on a Brownie (including focus) and the lens is an uncoated piece of plastic that is very sensitive to stray light producing flares and vignettes.  It was quite liberating to forget about all the technicalities of making a photograph and simply engage with the subject and accept the final result, regardless of the inevitable imperfections and flaws.

With this kind of project, I am reminded of Thoreau's quote on fishing:

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."  

I believe that this applies equally to pursuing photography.

Here are twelve images straight from the scans (crooked horizons corrected, however).  I look forward to exploring more projects with this camera as a reminder that the important thing is not the end result, but the enjoyment of the entire process and engaging with the natural world.

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey, or become prey themselves.

Here are a couple of photographs from the project.  Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 3/15/19 with new images

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey, or become prey themselves.

Here are a couple of photographs from the project.  Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 2/22/19 with new images

Getting to know Adobe Spark.  Here's a slideshow of winter at Colonial Williamsburg.

1.  Love

2.  Inspiration

3.  Gratitude

4.  Tranquility

5.  Compassion

6.  Humility

7.  Wonder

Our first assignment was to make a photograph that expresses each of our personal seven wonders - quite a tall order!!  Instead, I will be keeping this list in my pocket notebook and making this an ongoing personal quest.

What a great first assignment, and perhaps the most challenging photographic task that I have been assigned!

To me, photography is much more than creating images – it’s about opening up all of my senses and becoming receptive to the beauty of the natural world.

This is a quote from Sig Olson.  I was on a trip through the Tracy Arm in southeast Alaska.  One of the stops was South Sawyer Glacier.  When we got somewhat close to the glacier (you have to keep your distance in case of a calving), the captain shut down the engine so we could observe and listen to the glacier. 

Here, in no particular order are some images I captured with my small pocketable cameras.  Some are black and white, some are cropped, but they were all enjoyable to photograph.

Can you spot the alligator?

24 mm equivalent

Here he is!!

1200 mm equivalent

While no camera system is perfect, I find myself grabbing my super-zoom camera when out photographing in nature.  They have several distinct advantages:

• They are extremely light

I can hike all day long through challenging terrain and conditions and hardly notice my 21-ounce camera.  All of its accessories fit in a small camera bag and I can place that bag along with lunch, my rain jacket, etc. in a small backpack.

• Extensive depth of field

The small 1/2.3" sensor allows for great depths of field making close-up and macro photography much easier.  Often I like to depict elements of nature within their natural habitat and environment.  The small sensor cameras make it ideal - here's an example:

This mushroom is only a couple of inches tall.  Photographing this with a D-SLR would have rendered the background completely out of focus.

• Impressive stabilization

These little cameras have very good image stabilization systems.  Here is an example of a handheld shot at 1000 mm equivalent at 1/60 second.  Not too shabby!

• Easy to maneuver 

When I lived in Connecticut, I had a favorite bird photography spot along the edge of a salt marsh.  Getting to this spot was quite an undertaking.  I had to thread myself through patches of thorn bushes and overhanging brush.  Once there, I didn't have much room to work with and maneuver around.  Having a small camera on a small tripod made it much easier to negotiate a smaller area.

• Silent shutter

I really enjoy photographing birds on a feeder.  With my previous setup, the feeder was about ten feet away from the open window in which I photographed.  A loud shutter would have certainly scared many birds away.

• Working distance

Having a large working distance from your subject is important.  Many times if you try and approach an animal be it a bird, mammal, or insect, it will usually flee.  Perhaps even more important is avoiding altering the animal's natural behavior.  Many animals have a hard time merely surviving, so giving them space is important.

Using a super-zoom allowed me plenty of working distance with this resting Plover.  These little guys expend so much energy during migration and refueling, and being able to photograph it from a distance allowed it to rest.

All-in-all, super-zoom cameras are a lot of fun to use.  Here are some of my memorable photographs taken with super-zooms:

Leonardo da Vinci was a man far ahead of his time and his contributions to art and science are incredible.  Isaacson concluded the book with a list of life’s lessons from Leonardo.  They are:

1. Be curious, relentlessly curious
2. Seek knowledge for its own sake
3. Retain a childlike sense of wonder
4. Observe
5. Start with the details
6. See things unseen
7. Go down rabbit holes
8. Get distracted
9. Respect facts
10. Procrastinate
11. Let the perfect be the enemy of the good
12. Think visually
13. Avoid silos
14. Let your reach exceed your grasps
15. Indulge fantasy
16. Create for yourself, not just for your patrons
17. Collaborate
18. Make lists
19. Take notes, on paper
20. Be open to mystery

I can’t help but notice how applicable this is to photography.  Even #10, procrastinate (which is often perceived negatively), when viewed in Leonardo’s perspective, can serve to enhance creativity.  Looking through the contact sheet of my latest self-project Hidden in Plain Sight, I can certainly identify with at least 10 of these lessons.

Each year I start off with a new Moleskine notebook to carry with me to jot down notes, ideas, and ramblings.  This list is on the first page, and I intend to refer to it often.

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey, or become prey themselves.

Here are a couple of photographs from the project.  Can you spot the animal (or animals)?

*Updated 2/22/19 with new images

There are several parks and trails around town that are nice to explore.  We made it a point to go down to Cape May Point State Park and stroll the beaches (when the temperatures climbed out of the 20s and the winds were less than 40mph!).  One of those strolls we came across a Snowy Owl on the beach and were able to get several photographs from a respectable distance, but I was concerned.  It was sitting on the beach with its wings splayed out.  Since this was on state park property, we went to talk to the park ranger.  They were going to contact the Audubon society, but she seemed to think that it was covering its prey.  Bob Armstrong, a good friend of mine, and a biologist/naturalist based in Alaska indicated that these owls often head south when their normal food in the Arctic is not as plentiful.

Seeing such a beautiful bird is always a rewarding experience.  Here are a couple of photos:

Taking inspiration from Jim Brandenburg’s Chased by the Light project, I set out to make one photograph per day – one click of the shutter for 36 days beginning October 1 with one roll of film at a local nature trail.  

There would be no second chance and no instant feedback that I had become so reliant upon with digital technology.  It didn’t take long to discover the incredible element of mystery that would accompany me on this journey.

With this project, I hoped to go deeper – beyond the predictable and aesthetically “pretty” picture to slow down and to serve as a reminder to take a closer look at the natural world and what is hidden in plain sight.

Each day, I will post one image from the project.  My results are for you to judge.

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

-William Dyer

Today we took a walk through Colonial Williamsburg and I had my camera set on its black & white mode.  Normally when I decide to publish or print a black and white image, I'll shoot a color image in RAW and then convert the image in either Lightroom or Silver-Efex Pro.  This time, I simply used the black and white JPEG setting in the camera.  My camera has two black and white modes - standard and dynamic.  Here are some images all with the standard black and white setting:

For many thousands of years, the very survival of many animal species has depended on their ability to blend into the environment in order to catch prey, or become prey themselves.

Here are a couple of photographs from the project.  Can you spot the animal?

*Updated 8/15/17 with new images