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Brown bear cubs stay with their mothers for approximately 2 years. At about that time mom chases them off and they begin their lives alone. Some females will stay with their sibling sisters for quite a bit of time thereafter. Sometimes they will do so until it is time to have a litter of cubs of their own. These two young females are still together. When the salmon make a run in the river, a splash sets the action in motion. Even though one already has a prize catch, it’s hard for a bear to sit still when there is action in the water. Eventually, these two will go off on their own. If they have cubs of their own, their paths are not likely to cross. Should they meet again, years in the future, when neither has cubs of their own, a welcome rejoice and playful activity reminiscent of their days as cubs can ensue. #BrownBears
Dwarfed by a large termite mound and mindfully awaiting mom’s signal to join her, two cheetah cubs sit impatiently watching her every move. These lanky cubs will grow to be the fastest land animals on earth. They are some of the worlds most coveted big cats.
I love finding little things that make my day. This Eastern Box Turtle hatchling certainly falls into that category. At about one inch in size, it's a little more than a gulp for many predatory animals. With luck, however, this turtle can live to be as old as many humans. This little one will likely see years long beyond mine. I found it this past Sunday, just in time for #WorldTurtleDay
They walk on unsteady legs, are fully at the mercy of any creature that approaches, but they are, without doubt, masters of disguise. I cannot even estimate the number of times I have crossed their paths, only to be startled when they bolted away. Mom will leave them for many hours and sometimes days while off finding food. She returns to nurse her fawn in solitude and then coaxes it to stay put. They spend the majority of their first three weeks alone. Once they are able to keep up with mom she will allow them to follow. If you see a fawn bedded down, don’t assume it has been abandoned. It’s normal for them to be alone. Let them be. Mom will return.
When storm-driven tides and a full moon brought this morning’s escapade to Holgate to a screeching halt, it seemed that opportunity might be waning. A tip from a good friend, however, led to a screech of a different persuasion. Rather than a halt of all activities we managed to have quite a hoot, enjoying the company of this little owl. Once spotted by local chickadees, however, a bird alert went out and a trove of songbirds chased this Eastern Screech Owl deep into its wooden lair for the remainder of the morning. #EasternScreechOwl
Dripping wet, a brown bear stares down at the clam she just pulled out of the silt. It was buried over half the depth of one of her front legs but she still managed to find it through sight and smell. Those claws come in quite handy when opening up a shellfish meal. A quick slurp and she will be digging for the next tasty morsel.
When adult bears come too close to cubs or attempt to make off with a salmon, claimed and caught, things can get a bit gnarly. Two bears tangled over salmon that one caught and gave to her cubs. The other saw an opportunity in stealing the fish from the young bears. Momma bear, however, would not allow this to happen on her watch. This battle came down to no more than angry snarls and spittle. These encounters can sometimes lead to injuries and even death. Thankfully, this is rare. #BrownBears
Still dunning his haughty crown, an elk grazes on the vestiges of a season’s bounty. It is hard to rationalize the sparse sprigs of grass and tender distal twigs of branches that feed such a robust animal. Soon he will leave his headdress behind, just a memento of clashes won and clashes lost, and when the green grasses of spring make their debut, cuspate towers of acuminate spires will arise, anew.
Another successful canine species is the fox. The red fox is the largest of the fox species and has an Eurasian origin, having colonized much of the new world during periods of glaciation. Like they coyote, it hunts by scent, sight, and sound. The coloration on this fox was quite astounding. I love the snow left on its nose.
It completes with the Arctic fox in regions where the two cross paths. The red fox usually killing the much smaller Arctic fox. For this reason, the most southerly range of the Arctic fox is generally the most northerly range of the red fox. It will be interesting to see what happens to the Arctic fox as climates change. #RedFox
Taking pan shots or motion blurs still remains to be one of my favorite activities when photographing bison and wildebeest. Two different animals on different continents with vaguely similar stature, both physical as well as social. There is no doubt that most of the photos are trash but I love the results when a good photo can be created. Maybe I just love that I can shoot to my heart’s content? After all, what photographer isn’t happiest when pressing the shutter? The ethereal quality of a good motion blur breathes life into a still frame. This is one of my favorites from my recent trip to Yellowstone.
They remain to be some of the strangest, yet adorable, birds that I have ever seen. Like many pelagic birds they are much more agile in the water than they are on land or in the air. I will forever wonder why they were ever given the name, "puffin?"
It’s hard to think of an animal more supremely adapted for the frigid winter environment of Yellowstone. The bison uses its face to plow through deep snow and to search for the remaining vestiges of food. Looking like a donut dusted in sugar, this young bison keeps up with its elders on a long winter’s journey to spring. #bison
Most of us, with any experience, know that life isn’t easy. It’s got its ups and downs and we weather those undulations with varying degrees of grace. Taking time to step back and look at life’s overall contours can sometimes help put things back into perspective. When perspective is warped and distorted, however, getting some help isn’t a weakness, it’s a sign of fortitude and endurance. Asking for help takes a leap of faith and great courage. Like a mother duck with a trailing line of ducklings, we’d all like to have all of our ducks in a row, but that’s just not the normal progression of life. And, more importantly, life isn’t all ducklings! Sometimes it’s bears. Try keeping your bears in a row! That seems like an ominous task, right? But, when you’ve got your all your bears in a row, then you really have it together! Who needs ducks? #BrownBears #metaphors
Very interested in the paparazzi, but not daring enough to leave the warmth and safety of a mother's dense fur coat, these two young cubs watch us with intense interest. Their preoccupation with the two-legged mammals is also fleeting as they quickly settle back into finding a comfortable place to nap. Mom naps through most of their antics. After all, what's a mother to do? She needs her rest and ultimately, she knows they won't go far. #PolarBearCubs
Imagine suddenly realizing that you have spots! A fawn’s white spots might seem to accentuate their appearance, but nothing could be farther from the truth. When they are huddled down in the underbrush, the spots help provide effective camouflage. But fawns more commonly look at their adult counterparts and they have long since lost their spots. This fawn is really just grooming itself, but its facial expression almost suggests intense surprise.
There’s a special location that holds a place in my heart for a winter’s visit. There has also been a lot going on, so planning a trip there hasn’t been predictable. I’ve always wanted to make the trip by road. It isn’t the best time for driving but then why would I want it to be easy? Few good things in life are easy. I haven’t forgotten. Yellowstone, I still have my eye on you. #Bison
The sun is about to dip behind the mountain peaks for our last few minutes on the beach for the day. A brown bear and her cub are making their way to the inlet in hopes of capturing the low tide and a few wayward salmon. She stops momentarily to look at us but then resumes her trek northward, uninterrupted. I love the little glimpses into the daily lives of the animals that live along these northern shores. Photography helps me solidify these experiences and bring them home as lasting memories.
Being a mom means many things. It means sleepless nights and worry filled days; delighting in triumphs and delicately encouraging in defeat. It means watching the things you love most in life grow, mature, and become more independent with each passing day. It means knowing and accepting that someday when you just want to reach out and hold them, they may not be there. They will be off tending to their own brood and living life, because you taught them well. Most of all, being mom means unconditional love. And so, for all the wonderful mothers in the world, including those right here at home, we wish you many Mother's Day kisses! #MothersDay #PolarBears
I've wanted to photograph the wild horses of Assateague Island for years. But how do you photograph something that's been done millions of times and make it worthwhile? Sometimes you just let the animal decide! The horses were not as accessible as the might otherwise have been, and so I kayaked several miles to find them grazing the mudflats north of the bridge. The weather was not great for beachcombers, but the soft, muted light of a foggy day was eerily dramatic, making it possible to capture images without harsh shadows. I spent an hour or two with this band of ten before they finally moved off. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning. #WildHorses #AssateagueIsland
Although their usual dish is fish, Green Herons are known to consume amphibians, small reptiles, and even rodents. An unlucky frog has a fateful encounter with this crafty and beautiful bird. Green herons are one of the few bird species capable of using tools to aid in capturing prey. Like so many other waders, it swallows its captives whole. #GreenHeron
Until two years ago I had never seen a red-headed woodpecker in the wild. We are on the fringes of their range and despite occasional reports of sightings I had never been that lucky to have found one. That all changed last year when a pair chose to nest nearby. They had a successful brood and this year I have a pair nesting 10 meters off the back of my home. They are best viewed from my roof, putting me almost at equal footing to the nest. Pardon my obsession but due to their presence and the rivaled presence of so many other woodpeckers this year, I find it difficult to go elsewhere to photograph wildlife. This beauty landed not more than 4 meters away, at the top of my suet tree, seeming to be little bothered by my presence. I am hoping for their success. #RedHeadedWoodpeckers
A bear gives chase across the shallows of Cook Inlet. It reminds me of the weeks ahead. Most physician offices are closed but hospitals rarely close for care. I will be covering several hospitals in the area. Things in hospitals rarely happen when you would like them to. They are never convenient and frequently keep you running like this bear. But providing great, reliable care in the midst of pandemonium is what makes hospital medicine challenging and rewarding. We will meet this crisis with unequaled enthusiasm. Above all, I commend the nurses, respiratory therapists, and ancillary staff that are down in the trenches providing the care to our sick. Without you, doctors could do nothing at all.
The littlest falcon doesn’t lack for bravery, for it either doesn’t realize that it is small or, quite frankly, it doesn’t care. I shared a few encounters with this beautiful male while visiting Flamingo in Everglades National Park. My efforts to capture it in flight were met with mixed success. And even though he didn’t seem terribly distressed about my presence, he was more than upset when a red-shouldered hawk flew into his territory. North America’s smallest falcon set out in pursuit, chasing the hawk across several acres of ground and up into a distant tree. The hawk remained for the next hour. It’s not unusual to see smaller, less fearsome birds chase larger, predatory birds. In fact, it’s fairly common. Have you ever seen it happen? #AmericanKestrel
Despite it still being summer, morning temperatures can be low enough to see your breath condense. On a windless morning the effects are more pronounced, as the condensation doesn’t immediately blow away. When this boar (male brown bear) saunters across the beach silhouetted by a rising sun, his breath is revealed with an orange glow. Newest photographic hardware and software make images like this, that might previously have been unpalatable, beautifully crisp and detailed.
We found the bear leaving the beach. As soon as he saw us, he turned and circled back. It’s unusual for the bears to change their activity based on human presence so we suspected an issue and kept a great distance. Later that morning we found him feasting on the remains of a seal he had cashed on the beach above the tide line. Seals are not bear prey and it is likely that the seal died either after becoming entrapped in a fishing net or shot, illegally by a fishing boat (a practice that is all too common).
A coyote gazes out over a snowy hillside in Lamar Valley hoping to capture a glimpse of a vole, mouse, or rabbit to hunt. The beauty of Yellowstone can be overwhelming due to its immensity. It is best consumed in small bites that help one savor the entire dish.
She sits calmly while her young cubs play in a shallow ravine nearby. When mom decides that it's time to move on she lets out a low, barely audible growl. She is calling them to come. The cubs stop playing instantly. They look back in her direction, then at each other, then like most children they leap back into their raucous activities, making believe they never heard a thing. After a few minutes, mom becomes a bit concerned. After all, although they are nearby they are out of her sight. Finally, she gets up and walks to the edge of the ravine, to make certain that her young jewels are still safe. To coax them away from morning playtime she ultimately has to climb down into the ravine herself. She never loses her patience, eventually coming out with the playful two in tow. Of course, moving on does not mean that two young cubs can't continue to have fun, and so the game of "hunting mom" begins. Despite sharp nails and dagger like teeth, she walks along with pride and I swear I can detect a hint of a smile on her face. #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #Wildlifephotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #Lions #LionCubs #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation
I'm just passing some time and blowing off steam this morning before heading to a pottery wood firing for the afternoon and evening. It's an amazing process and I am even more astounded at the talent of so many who practice the art. Even though my creations are somewhat child-like compared to that of the other participants, I'm interested in seeing the results of the firing.
It's always a pleasure when seasonal favorites pay a visit to the yard. He seemed to spend a good part of the day here but I'm doubtful that he and a mate will choose to nest. Hoping for a surprise like the red headed woodpecker that nested near the house in 2019. Scarlet tanagers definitely nest in this area but I haven't been lucky enough to have them nest at my home.
Much of the time we end up gazing high, onto mountain sides and cliffs, to see bighorn sheep. It’s rarer for them to descend to the meadows where we might view them eye to eye. So, on this morning I decided to hike up the trail and sit on the hillside at their level, to see the world from a bighorn’s perspective. The trail was slippery but worth the effort, and the mountains and the sheep seemed ever so much more beautiful. Over time, some descended to areas below and every so often looked up to see the photographer perched on a snowy hillside, along a mountain trail, in Yellowstone. #BighornSheep
It’s rare that I have a particular photo in my mind. When you are shooting wildlife photography it’s nearly impossible to script a session with nature. Trying new perspectives is always fun, however, and my recent attempts at using a remote camera with an electronic trigger for bison left me with a few photos that I love. The photo of this rather large bull is definitely my favorite. He was undaunted by the camera and simply walked on by with a dried blade of grass in his mouth, as if he were a cool dude on any other winter’s day. The rocky face of the hill behind him made a great background as he descended along the path. When deciding where to place the camera, there were several potential crossing points. I simply had to choose one and hope for the best.
Watching bison interact can be a time-consuming process. Like many ungulates, these big girls and boys spend a good bit of time resting and ruminating. When they are, it’s probably best to do the same. When they become active, however, it’s fun to watch them interact. Although the summer-fall rut is an active and true competition, rutting most of the rest of the year seems to be simply undertaken for occasional entertainment. In winter, rutting is a bit less dramatic. The absence of the clouds of dust that usually accompany and accentuate the pastime somehow seems to make it appear tamer. Add a brisk snowfall and rutting is blanketed in a peaceful, wintertime chill. #Bison
Yesterday, I was able to spend a little time with this handsome gentleman and his squishy, delicious meal. He’s an American Kestrel, North America’s smallest falcon. Despite his small size he chased red shouldered hawks almost 3 times his size out of his territory.
His meal reminds me of a conversation my wife, son, our server and I had over dinner last night about food aversions based not on taste but on texture. My son has an aversion to the chewy textures of some foods like calamari. The server said she could never tolerate fruits with fuzzy skins. Do you have food texture aversions? What are they? #AmericanKestrel
Blonde Mom, named for her golden mane, waits with her family of two yearling cubs for the tide to recede. The cubs were born last year and are about a year and a half old. One of the two has her golden coat of fur. She has kept them safe and well fed. At some point next season, she will disperse them, turning on them and chasing them away, forcing them to make their own lives. It’s a difficult time for young bears. It must be confusing for them and tough to comprehend how the only thing that has protected and nourished them is now foe rather than friend. Bear psychology is something foreign to most humans. We cherish our young and walk with them well into adulthood and beyond. #BrownBears
Hummingbirds will likely forever fascinate me. No matter how often I see them, I can't resist stopping to watch them. Last evening, the light was beautiful. Shadows fell on the background while warm sunlight illuminated the area near the feeders and flowers. The iridescent throat patch of this Ruby-throated hummingbird was striking and he intermittently danced for a female that would also attend "his" feeders. #RubyThroatedHummingbirds
She slips slowly into the chilly snowmelt-fed stream not far from the inlet to cross in the shallows. The tide is high so she must still swim. Even though she is only a fraction of the weight she will come to attain over the next 5 weeks, she still manages to throw up a small wake. As she makes the crossing the bear sips from the sweet cool water and keeps an ever-watchful eye out for the occasional splash of an early salmon making its way upstream. It is an absolute thrill to be able to observe her grace and beauty at eye level.
A Wood Frog sits atop a beautiful Mandevilla bloom for a portrait. A fairly common tree frog of the northern reaches of North America, its habitat stretches from Alaska across Canada and south to Georgia. Most interesting is its ability to withstand freezing temperatures. Genetic biochemical modifications of its metabolism allow much of this animal’s body to freeze during colder winter months. Upon thawing they resume normal activity, and they are some of the earliest animals to emerge in spring. It’s a chilling tale and a fascinating concept that is the subject of extensive study. For those of you who are interested, the photographic process used to make this portrait is called light painting. #WoodFrog
Smoke signals used by the indigenous people are more fact than fiction. They were used primarily in the southwest and plains since forests and mountains would have made the practice much less effective. While I sat watching this handsome raven late one afternoon I wondered just how the practice may have come about. #Raven #Vapor #smokesignals
It’s that time of year again when coastal brown bears tune-in to splashes on the river and take note of the tiny wakes caused by salmon swimming just below the water’s surface. Few things can score a bear’s attention with such fervent intensity. Once focused, the race is on. If you think you can outrun this beautiful creature? Think again! In a flash, the lumbering waddle so characteristic of bears is transformed into a visage of power, speed, and grace. #CoastalBrownBears #BrownBears
Elephants entwine their trunks and touch each other gently, even going so far as to reach into each other’s mouths. The moment appears tender rather than aggressive. Their faces are affectionately placid. If elephants can smile then these are the faces of happy pachyderms. We refer to it as social bonding when it occurs in other life forms. To us, it’s simply kissing, hugging, and saying, “hello.” I wish that I were privileged enough to understand them at their level and able to share a moment like this. Watching as an outsider looking in I am humbled and awed. We know so little of a world that we are more than content to destroy out of bloodlust and greed. #Elephants
Sometimes a photograph is best presented with few words. The look in her eyes says more than I ever possibly could.
#PolarBears
It’s six in the morning and the golden glow of the sun, barely risen, blankets the meadow. “Old Sow,” a well-known bear has already begun her daily trek, meandering along the slough (pronounced “slew”), out to the mouth of the river, and back again into the spruce and thickets that pepper the mountain slopes of this temperate rainforest. The sun has not yet bestowed its warmth upon the lea and the sow’s sultry breath rises, condensed by the evening chill that struggles in retreat. A new day begins, less encumbered and more wholesome, along this stretch of Alaskan Coast and each breath of its fragrant aura restores my soul.
I’m thinking that this looks very much like a Kenyan version of an old American western cowboy movie. I can hear music from one of Clint Eastwood’s movies playing in my head as they wait for their nemeses to show up on the other end of the field. #Cheetahs
It’s 6:30 AM and the sun has not yet risen. We hope to catch the sunrise from the west coast of Cook Inlet. It is cold, damp, and overcast. Just a hint of color comes through some of the thinner clouds. The bears are already up, too. They hope for the smell of salmon entering the streams and rivers. They will settle for the scent of clams from under the thick sediment. What the morning lacks in comfort, it provides in serenity. It is the blue hour of twilight dawn.
Interest in the suet that I put out for the woodpeckers of my yard on the part of migrating yellow-rumped warblers has given me a unique opportunity to photograph them in flight. I'm hoping that they will hang around for the next week so that I might catch them in better light.
Managing to gaze into the open eyes of a snowy in daylight can be difficult, at best. Their sensitive retinas leave them squinting throughout most of the day… that is when they are not actually sleeping. But in the minutes before sunrise, when its rays lazily find their way above the horizon, the beaches and bays are eerily blue and the golden iris of the snowy glows with pupils as large as saucers. It takes luck! Luck finding a bird in a suitable place, luck having a cloudless sunrise, and luck finding an owl motionless enough to allow for a photograph in such low light. As luck would have it, we were -- quite lucky. It was a brief but memorable moment at twilight dawn, indeed. #SnowyOwls
Each year millions of grazers cross back and forth through the treacherous waters of the Mara River. They do so in search of greener pastures to graze. Some do it more than once. As the dry season sets in, grasses in the Northern Serengeti stay greener longer and animals migrate long distances from the southern and central regions until they reach the banks of the river. There they gather in large number until one of them has the courage to step in. When one starts, many will follow. Once on the other side they remain north of the river until the rains set it, bringing greener pastures again south of the river. The river is rocky, with swift currents and is infested with hungry crocodiles, too. The unlucky wildebeest can break a leg jumping, be dragged off course by the river's currents, or simply drown. For those, things generally don't end well. For most, however, the chaos and calamity of the crossing is but a brief right of passage, and they emerge and carry on their daily routine on the on the other side. #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #Wildebeest #TheGreatMigration #MaraRiverCrossing #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation
A law is being considered to ban the use of remotely controlled cameras in Yellowstone. Drones are already illegal in all National Parks. Their effects on wildlife are significant and banning them makes sense. The effects of a remote camera like the one in this photo has little effect on the animal. There is the occasional animal that may take notice and stop to check the camera, but consider the effects of the road this coyote is walking and the traffic that uses it. Consider how many coyotes, elk, deer, and bison are killed in our national parks. Perhaps we should ban roads and automobiles. They certainly have a much more significant effect on the national park wildlife than the occasional remotely triggered camera. #Coyote.
As the snows fall, Bighorn sheep descend from their summer mountain tops to lower grounds in search of winter’s rations. Grazing and browsing on the desiccated remnants of a season gone by is a full-time job. The dry vegetation has much less nutritional value than its healthy summer counterpart, and even though they seem to eat almost constantly, most generally lose weight during the long, cold, winter season. Winter’s rations may be sparse but this young ram doesn’t seem to notice. #BighornSheep
One doesn’t have to look hard to see the love between a dam and her foal. This colt is likely no more than a day or so old. He is still a bit wobbly but horses stand within minutes of birth. They have to in order to nurse, and they must nurse in order to survive. They usually begin trying to run within a day and this little guy is no exception. You can see from his stature, he is all legs. The legs of horses at birth are proportionately large compared to adults. The reasons for this are clear. #WildHorses
In trying to create a wildlife image that captures attention, there are many things to consider. Many of the concepts apply to all forms of photography but some more generic to wildlife. Two forms of photography that, I believe, share many characteristics are not those you might immediately consider. Wildlife and sports photography are vastly similar when it comes to the components of the photos themselves but techniques are vastly different when you apply lighting to sports.
Perspective cannot be overstated. When possible, adjust your view of the subject. Change your altitude and your attitude. Go low. Move high. Find a perspective that enhances your subject and its surroundings.
Try not to ignore the foreground and the background. They are important components of the photo, tying the subject to the rest of nature.
Lighting isn’t always something that wildlife photographers can control. When possible, however, try to avoid lighting that is “en face.” Tangential lighting gives depth and perspective to an image and we all know the potential creativity produced by careful backlighting.
Gesture is probably one of the most difficult attributes of a photo to define. This photo makes it easier. The bison is approaching but it wouldn’t be nearly as captivating if this bull were looking down or away. His stance and his raised front hoof are defining moments of his trek forward and construe motion when there is none at all.
Above all, work your subject. When you find yourself with a subject that potentially provides these components, don’t snap a few frames and leave. Keep taking photos as long as the subject and surroundings provide potential. It means taking hundreds of photos that you may never choose to use but the difference between a plain photo and a work of art can be one frame away. In this way, digital photography has greatly expanded our limits.