Natural History Photography Blog – Page 14 – Natural History Photography Blog

Tear Sheets

International Conservation Photography Awards 2010

The 2010 occasion of the International Conservation Photography Awards was held recently in Seattle, with winners being announced June 19 and an exhibit of many of images running until September 6 at The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington. You can view online photos…

adminJuly 14, 2010

Antarctica Penguin Southern Ocean Time Lapse Video

Paulet Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Photos of Paulet Island, Antarctic Peninsula, and photos of Adelie penguins We arrive early in the morning at Paulet Island, our first taste of the Antarctic Peninsula. As we navigate our approach through ice-filled channels around the island, large groups of Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) are seen swimming in the…

adminJuly 11, 2010

Antarctica Penguin Southern Ocean

Nature’s Best Photography Cover Shot

The cover image of the current issue of Nature's Best Photography is my photograph of an Adelie penguin taken earlier this year in Antarctica: The photo also appears in the interior of the issue, since it was fortunate to be given an honorable mention in this years Ocean Views photography…

adminJune 16, 2010

California Death Valley Desert National Parks

The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park

Photos of the Racetrack in Death Valley National Park, and the Racetrack's sliding rocks (or sailing stones). The Racetrack is an ancient dry lake bed in Death Valley, famous for its sailing stones. Located between the Last Chance Mountains and the Cottonwood Mountains, the Racetrack Playa lies at 3600' above…

adminJune 14, 2010

California Death Valley Desert Infrared National Parks The American Southwest

Eureka Valley Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park

Stock photos of the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes and the Eureka Valley in Death Valley National Park. One of the goals of our recent Death Valley trip was to reach the wonderful Eureka Valley Sand Dunes. At almost 700' tall, these dunes are some of the tallest in the United…

adminJune 11, 2010

California Death Valley Desert Flora National Parks

Eureka Valley Dune Grass, Swallenia alexandrae

Stock photos of the Eureka Valley Dune Grass, Swallenia alexandrae, in Death Valley National Park. The Eureka Valley Dune Grass (Swallenia alexandrae) is a federally endangered grass found only in the Eureka Valley, in the far northern reaches of Death Valley National Park. Swallenia is a monotypic genus, consisting only…

adminJune 10, 2010

California Death Valley Desert Flora National Parks The American Southwest Wildflowers

Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Oenothera californica eurekensis

Stock photos of the Eureka Valley Dune Evening Primrose, Oenothera californica eurekensis, in Death Valley National Park. The Eureka Valley Evening Primrose (Oenothera californica eurekensis) is a federally endangered wildflower found only on and near the sand dune habitat of the Eureka Valley, in the far northern reaches of Death…

adminJune 4, 2010

Marine Life San Clemente Island Sharks

Leopard Shark Photos, Triakis semifasciata

Stock photographs of leopard sharks, Triakis semifasciata. I've been diving in the kelp forest for about 20 years, yet have never been able to get a decent photo of a leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) in the wild. I've seen them many times, but never had a good opportunity for a…

adminJune 3, 2010

California San Clemente Island Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Sea Fans and Gorgonians at San Clemente Island

Photos of gorgonians and sea fans at San Clemente Island. I spent three days diving at one of my favorite spots on Earth: San Clemente Island. The island, about 60 miles offshore of southern California, is home to some of the world's most beautiful kelp forests. Swimming through these kelp…

adminJune 2, 2010

Wisdom

Sun and Water Beget the Summer Girl

Ferris wheel and fair rides at sunset, blurring due to long exposure. Image ID: 20872 Location: Del Mar Fair, California, USA I am readying gear for a bit of diving, so I had to drag the camera out of deep storage and call upon one of my two favorite fitness…

adminMay 23, 2010

Death Valley National Parks Time Lapse Video

Milky Way Time Lapse Movie

This is a time lapse video of the Milky Way rising in the south east sky, viewed from Death Valley. The Milky Way is our own galaxy, a thick spinning disc of stars with arms that thin as they spiral outward. Our Sun is located in one of the arms.…

adminMay 18, 2010

Antarctica Southern Ocean Video

Pack Ice at the Edge of the Weddell Sea

Photos of the Weddell Sea, approaching the Antarctic Peninsula. "The Weddell Sea is, according to the testimony of all who have sailed through its berg-filled waters, the most treacherous and dismal region on earth." -- from The White Continent by Thomas R. Henry (1950). This morning finds us on the…

adminMay 12, 2010

Elephant Seal Penguin South Orkney Islands Southern Ocean

Shingle Cove, Coronation Island, South Orkneys

Photos of Shingle Cove, Coronation Island, South Orkney Islands Midway through our crossing from South Georgia Island to Antarctica we pass the South Orkney Islands, a small group of islands that lie almost exactly between South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, making them a natural place to pause during our…

adminMay 11, 2010

South Orkney Islands Southern Ocean

Coronation Island, South Orkney Islands

Photos of the Coronation Island, South Orkney Islands We arrive at Coronation Island, the largest of the South Orkney Islands, around dawn. This is our first opportunity to really see some impressive icebergs at close range. While we are here to visit Shingle Cove, the approach to the island on…

adminMay 8, 2010

Antarctica South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Scotia Sea, En Route to South Orkney Islands

Photos of the Scotia Sea, en route to the South Orkney Islands Soon after ending our land visit at Cooper Bay, we leave South Georgia Island in our wake and begin sailing southwest towards the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. I am somewhat melancholy. South Georgia Island is fantastic,…

adminMay 7, 2010

Penguin South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Cooper Bay, South Georgia Island

Photos of Cooper Bay and Macaroni Penguins, South Georgia Island This morning we are again presented with difficult weather. Our plans had originally been to visit Gold Harbor or St. Andrews Bay, two of the most notable and popular locations on South Georgia Island, but these locations are exposed to…

adminMay 4, 2010

Sharks

Hammerhead Shark Cover Photo, Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

The latest issue of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology uses a hammerhead shark photo of mine on the cover to accompany the article Temporal Resolution and Spectral Sensitivity of the Visual System of Three Coastal Shark Species from Different Light Environments (McComb, Frank, Hueter and Kajiura). This is at least the…

adminMay 3, 2010

South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Drygalski Fjord, South Georgia Island

Photos of Drygalski Fjord, South Georgia Island The weather today continued to turn for the worse after we departed Godthul, so a decision was made to travel to Drygalski Fjord at the south end of South Georgia Island in lieu of an afternoon land visit. So, after lunch and a…

adminApril 26, 2010

California Wildflowers

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR

California Poppy photos (Eschscholzia californica) at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, in Lancaster, California. With Amanda and Tracy in Kansas City at a Volleyball National Qualifier tournament, Sarah and I had the weekend to ourselves -- with absolutely nothing planned. This is unprecedented. We took advantage of it by…

adminApril 25, 2010

Penguin South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Godthul, South Georgia Island

Photos of Godthul and Gentoo Penguins, South Georgia Island Our plans to visit St. Andrews Bay this morning are scuttled. There is a strong SE wind that is sending big waves onto the beach at St. Andrews making a landing ill-advised. We move north a short ways to Godthul and…

adminApril 22, 2010

Albatross South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Prion Island, South Georgia Island

Photos of Nesting Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) on Prion Island, South Georgia Island We wait out the bad weather that arrived while we were on Salisbury Plain on the icebreaker M/V Polar Star, which is anchored in the lee of a nearby small island. Although the weather is cold, dark…

adminApril 20, 2010

Photography Wisdom

A Breath-Holding Exercise for Water Photographers

I finish my swim workouts with a few minutes of active breathholding exercises which I feel make me a better waterman and a better photographer. Photographers working in or under the water must often deal with chaotic, stressful or just plain physically demanding situations. I have found that being able…

adminApril 19, 2010

Penguin South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island

Photos of Salisbury Plain and King Penguins in the Bay of Isles, South Georgia Island Usually I am somewhat reserved in my written descriptions of places and things. In the following post, I am sure I have failed to communicate the profound depth of emotion that I experienced standing beside…

adminApril 2, 2010

South Georgia Island Southern Ocean Time Lapse

Grytviken, South Georgia Island

Photos of the Grytviken Whaling Station, South Georgia Island Following our morning at Hercules Bay, we motor during lunch to Cumberland Bay and the whaling settlement of Grytviken. Grytviken lies below – you guessed it – scenic mountains that rise almost straight up. It is insanely windy at times today,…

adminApril 1, 2010

South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Hercules Bay, South Georgia Island

Photos of Hercules Bay and Macaroni Penguins, South Georgia Island It is snowing this morning. We are anchored at Stromness but can hardly see the mountains over which we hiked yesterday. The M/V Polar Star is covered with snow. The beaches surrounding our anchorage are dusted with snow and look…

adminMarch 30, 2010

South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Stromness Harbour and Shackleton Hike, South Georgia Island

Photos of Stromness Harbour and Shackleton Hike, South Georgia Island After lunch on the boat we return to the far side of Fortuna Bay to set out on a 3.5m hike over a mountain pass to Stromness. This hike will follow the final leg in Ernest Shackleton's heroic journey from…

adminMarch 28, 2010

South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Fortuna Bay, South Georgia Island

Photos of Fortuna Bay and Antarctic Fur Seals, South Georgia Island Fortuna Bay, with icebreaker M/V Polar Star at anchor.Image ID: 24593Location: Fortuna Bay, South Georgia Island This morning we awake anchored in Fortuna Bay. Some early birds opt for a 6am landing, while others wait until after breakfast to…

adminMarch 26, 2010

California Flora Wildflowers

In Search of Chocolate Lilies

I got out early this morning with Mike. We went looking for chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora) on the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. We got there at sunrise. It was warm and clear. We found a lot of lilies. They were so dark brown I am declaring them to be…

adminMarch 20, 2010

Beautiful Views of San Diego Wildflowers

California Poppy Photos, Eschscholzia californica

Photos of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) from past seasons. I am hoping we get some good displays this year! California poppies cover the hillsides in bright orange, just months after the area was devastated by wildfires. Image ID: 20497 Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica, Eschscholtzia californica Location: Del Dios, San…

adminMarch 19, 2010

South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Right Whale Bay, South Georgia Island

Photos of Right Whale Bay and Antarctic Fur Seals, South Georgia Island Antarctic fur seal colony, on a sand beach alongside Right Whale Bay, with the mountains of South Georgia Island in the background, sunset.Image ID: 24315Species: Antarctic Fur Seal, Arctocephalus gazellaLocation: Right Whale Bay, South Georgia Island Upon reaching…

adminMarch 18, 2010

South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

Approaching South Georgia Island

Approaching South Georgia Island Stern of the M/V Polar Star, foggy weather, sea birds flying in the wake of the ship, at sea.Image ID: 24137Location: Southern Ocean This was our third day sailing for South Georgia Island. We are fortunate to have had calm seas the entire time. Today I…

adminMarch 17, 2010

California Desert The American Southwest Wildflowers

Anza-Borrego Desert Wildflower Update

Brittlebush at sunrise, dawn, springtime bloom, Palm Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Image ID: 24301 Species: Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza Borrego, California, USA I made a sunrise visit to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, my first visit this spring. By 9am I had seen enough…

adminMarch 13, 2010

Albatross Falklands South Georgia Island Southern Ocean

En Route to South Georgia Island

En Route to South Georgia Island, Wandering albatross in flight Sunset clouds create a colorful arch, spanning the heavens from horizon to horizon, over the open sea between the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island.Image ID: 24073Location: Southern Ocean It is a three day sail from the Falkland Islands to…

adminMarch 11, 2010

Albatross Falklands Southern Ocean

Steeple Jason, West Falklands

Photos of Steeple Jason Island and Black-browed albatross, West Falklands, Falkland Islands Steeple Jason, one of the Jason group of islands, is to be our only landing today. There has been quite a bit of anticipation for this visit. It is considered one of the major landings of the trip,…

adminMarch 10, 2010

Falklands Southern Ocean

Carcass Island, Falkland Islands

Photos of Carcass Island and

adminMarch 8, 2010

California Photography San Diego Time Lapse Video

Timelapse Movie of Oceanside Pier at Sunset

Timelapse video of dusk and sunset at the Oceanside Pier, California, as tourists play on the beach and surf fish. Shot with a still camera, my lucky flipflops, and a pack of Altoids. Finished on our new iMac. Gotta love coastal Southern California.

adminMarch 5, 2010

La Jolla

Paragliding, Torrey Pines Gliderport

A photo of a paraglider at sunset, viewed over the Pacific ocean from the Torrey Pines Gliderport in La Jolla, California. I shot this yesterday at sunset, wearing shorts, flip flops (my lucky pair!), and a t-shirt. Sorry Rest-Of-The-Country, you can have your Big Apple and Windy City and Rockies…

adminMarch 1, 2010

Wisdom

How I Lost My Apple-ginity

You know the feeling. That special iFeeling. You walk into the Apple Store and immediately have the joy. Oooh. Aaah. "How cool would it be to have one of those? Just think how my photography experience would improve with THAT! I know I could be twice as productive with that…

adminFebruary 26, 2010

Falklands Southern Ocean

Westpoint Island, Falkland Islands

Photos of Westpoint Island and Rockhopper Penguins, Falkland Islands Morning finds us at Westpoint Island. We can only see about 200’ up into the rolling green hills; heavy cloud cover obscures everything above that. It looks wet in the hills. Our zodiac lands on a small boat ramp, one of…

adminFebruary 23, 2010

Falklands Southern Ocean

New Island, Falkland Islands

Photos of New Island, Falkland Islands Tall seacliffs overlook the southern Atlantic Ocean, a habitat on which albatross and penguin reside.Image ID: 23809Location: New Island, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom Today is New Years Day, an appropos date on which to land at New Island in the Falklands, our first landing…

adminFebruary 22, 2010

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