Natural History Photography Blog – Page 17 – Natural History Photography Blog

Abstract

Predawn Flock of Snow Geese, Abstract Photo

Last winter I joined friends Skip Stubbs and Ken Howard for a few days of bird photography at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. I would get up early each morning to watch the enormous flocks of snow geese that overnight on the ponds take off in a massive predawn…

adminMay 6, 2009

Wisdom

Optimal Contrast and Saturation Settings for RAW Photographers

Are you using the best in-camera settings for contrast and saturation? If you shoot RAW and think these settings don't affect you, think again. If you judge your exposure settings on whether you are clipping the highlights on your histogram, you may be underexposing unnecessarily. Here's why. Note that this…

adminMay 5, 2009

Abstract Bahamas Underwater Photography

Light Rays on Ocean Bottom, Abstract Photo

I made a number of trips to the Bahamas to film Olympic champion swimmers and wild dolphins. While we were roasting in the Bahamian sun, waiting for dolphins to appear, we could swim as much as we wanted in the clear shallow waters of the Little Bahama Banks. I really…

adminMay 1, 2009

Abstract Galapagos Diaries

Underwater Bubbles Rise to the Surface, Abstract Photo

Today's abstract photo, this time from the distant island of Darwin (aka, Culpepper) in the Galapagos. A safety stop after a good dive in Galapagos is sort of like the aftermath of good sex: one drifts along lazily, quite relaxed, tuned out and somewhat befuddled, thinking "whoa, that was pretty…

adminApril 29, 2009

Abstract San Clemente Island

Surf Grass and Underwater Motion, Abstract Photo

Today's abstract photo was photographed at San Clemente Island. Early one overcast, dark morning at the south end of the island, I found myself drifting along the reef about 30' deep, over a huge expanse of surf grass. Given the dim light the exposures were long and blurry, so I…

adminApril 28, 2009

Abstract

Sunlight in the Ocean, Abstract Photo

Another abstract photo, sunlight piercing the ocean surface. I used to shoot a lot of this stuff when I was diving in the 90's, killing time decompressing at the end of a dive. Note how elegantly the rays of the sun break apart and blend into the water. That is…

adminApril 27, 2009

Infrared Joshua Tree National Parks Photography The American Southwest

Infrared Joshua Tree National Park

I shot these this morning during a quick trip to Joshua Tree National Park. I was totally uninspired for "regular" photography this morning, and the light was not that great anyway due to high winds and dust from the night before. But the little pocket infrared camera made some interesting…

adminApril 26, 2009

Abstract

Abstract Photo of the Ocean Surface

I have had good luck selling abstract photos the last few years. I just had another last week. Which got me pondering and ruminating (not a sight for the faint of heart). So without further ado, today begins a series of posts highlighting some of my favorite abstract images. Abstract…

adminApril 25, 2009

Great White Shark Sharks Wildlife

Great White Shark Photo on National Geographic’s NG Channel

The National Geographic Channel recently produced the television documentary "Great White Odyssey", and choose one of my great white shark photos (Carcharodon carcharias) to use as the main background to the web page publicizing the program. Here is a link to NG Channel's page for the Great White Odyssey. The…

adminApril 24, 2009

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Icons Mexico Sharks

Great White Shark Photos

This great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) was photographed at Guadalupe Island, Mexico. I think I have made about 15 trips to the island, a mix of open-water diving trips and shark cage photography trips. I am hoping to get down there again for scuba diving, freediving and just plain exploration…

adminApril 22, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle Catches a Fish, Alaska

A bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) pulls a fish from the water on the fly, leaving a splash in its wake. The fish can be seen in the eagle's talons. Bald eagle makes a splash while in flight as it takes a fish out of the water.Image ID: 22584Species: Bald eagle,…

adminApril 21, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle Wildlife

Photo of a Bald Eagle in Flight, Homer, Alaska

See the new bald eagle photos. This photo of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is quite simply composed but was not quite so simple to execute. The wind was blowing steadily parallel to the sun angle which led to the eagles banking and circling in front of me. But often…

adminApril 17, 2009

California Landscape National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Photo of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

Half Dome is the one feature most closely associated with Yosemite National Park. A vast lobe of Mesozoic-era granodiorite magma cooled to rock, Half Dome was gradually uplifted to its present altitude of 8842 ft. As the rock was exposed, weathering and exfoliation of shell-like outer layers of the rock…

adminApril 16, 2009

California Landscape National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Photo of El Capitan, Yosemite National Park

El Capitan, the massive granite monolith overlooking the western end of Yosemite Valley, is my favorite attraction in the park. It is beautiful and impressive from sunrise to sunset, under moonlight, in rain and when shrouded in mist. El Capitan, the largest known exposed granite block in the world, stands…

adminApril 15, 2009

California Icons Infrared Landscape National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Infrared Photo of Yosemite Falls and Leidig Meadow

I used the same digital infrared camera to photograph Leidig Meadow with upper Yosemite Falls. The skies were totally socked in, there was light rain and virtually no color, so normal color photographs were unappealing and immediately deleted. But a black and white conversion of one of the color channels…

adminApril 14, 2009

California Infrared National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Infrared Photo of El Capitan, Yosemite

Here is an image of El Capitan, one of Yosemite Valley's most iconic iconistic icons, made with an digital infrared camera. The camera senses infrared light only, rather than visible spectrum light, resulting in dark skies and foliage that glows. See more Yosemite National Park stock photos. El Capitan eastern…

adminApril 13, 2009

Infrared

WTH?

Exciting new initiatives in photography? Pushing the envelope? Outside my comfort zone? Bah, just a load of feel-good jargon nonsense ... Once again, I am not sure what I am doing. See the photos below as evidence. This is about as far removed from underwater film photography (which is where…

adminApril 8, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle on the Beach, Alaska

See the new bald eagle photos. This adult bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was observed foraging for bits of food in a shallow tidal stream on a broad sand beach. The bits of white in the air are snowflakes -- it was a wet snow and made the eagle look pretty…

adminApril 6, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle Icons

Bald Eagle Landing, Alaska

See the new bald eagle photos. A large group of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was gathered on the snow-covered ground when periodically another eagle would arrive, in flight, and join the group by skimming just over their heads, slowing with wings outstretched, finding a suitable spot amid the crush, and…

adminApril 5, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle

Two Bald Eagles on a Perch, Alaska

See the new bald eagle photos. There were several perches that the bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) would use each morning. The broad wooden perches could typically accomodate several eagles each. In this image the eagle on the left, which has been on the perch for a while, throws its head…

adminApril 4, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle

Two Bald Eagles in Flight, Alaska

See the new bald eagle photos. Having over 200 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nearby would seem to make it easy to gather a variety of photos. But I was tempted to shoot the same few compositions repeatedly and had to make an effort to look for different compositions and angles…

adminApril 3, 2009

Wisdom

Economic Recovery Plan for Photographers

This is an exciting time to be a photographer in America! Just a few days after Inauguration, the Obama Administration quietly created the Presidential Digital Imaging and Photography Commission. This blue ribbon panel of industry experts was tasked with devising market incentives, rather than bailouts, for the photography industry, in…

adminApril 1, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle Wildlife

Bald Eagle and Kenai Mountains, Alaska

See the new bald eagle photos. During two of the mornings that I was in Homer, I was fortunate to be inside Jean Keane's yard as the bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) gathered to eat herring. This was quite something, to be so close to so many eagles. Unnatural perhaps, as…

adminMarch 31, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle Wildlife

Juvenile Bald Eagle, Alaska

See the new bald eagle photos. This is a juvenile bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). The speckled brown and white coloration is highly variable among juvenile bald eagles which can sometimes resemble golden eagles. It is typically not until the fourth year that juveniles mature and assume the characteristic brown body…

adminMarch 30, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle Wildlife Wisdom

Photographing Bald Eagles in Homer, Alaska

Photographing Bald Eagles in Homer AK -- What Worked and What Didn't Bald eagle in flight, banking over beach with Kachemak Bay in background. Image ID: 22613 Species: Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis Location: Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska, USA If you have seen much of this web site,…

adminMarch 29, 2009

Alaska Landscape Panoramas

Kenai Mountains and Kachemak Bay, Alaska

I was up north in Homer, Alaska to photograph bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), but I grabbed a couple landscape shots of the beautiful Kenai Mountains, which lie across Kachemak Bay from the Homer Spit. This was my view one morning, after the clouds and snow had cleared out leaving blue…

adminMarch 25, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle Wildlife

Flip Flops

Bald eagle in flight, sidelit, cloudy sky and Kenai Mountains in the background.Image ID: 22596Species: Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensisLocation: Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska, USA OK, I've been running since I was thirteen. That's 32 years of running. I'm not a skinny guy, which means I've been pounding…

adminMarch 13, 2009

Alaska Bald Eagle Wildlife

Secondary Inspection

Bald eagle, closeup of head and shoulders showing distinctive white head feathers, yellow beak and brown body and wings.Image ID: 22582Species: Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensisLocation: Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska, USA Going to try my hand at photographing some bald eagles in the cold. Up at 4am, shower,…

adminMarch 12, 2009

Antelope Canyon Arizona Landscape Slot Canyons The American Southwest The Wave Utah Wisdom

Photographing Antelope Canyon, The Wave, Buckskin Gulch and Horseshoe Bend

I have been fortunate to visit and photograph a few of the iconic locations around Page, Arizona: The Wave, Antelope Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, Horseshoe Bend and Monument Valley. Recently, I shared some correspondance about these places with another photographer whom I originally met at Brooks River a few years ago.…

adminMarch 11, 2009

Environmental Problems Monterey Sea Lion

Sea Lion Entangled in Monofiliment Line

This California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) has a severe neck laceration caused by what is likely monofiliment fishing line wrapped around its neck and digging into its skin. Monofiliment fishing line is an exceptionally thin and strong type of synthetic line used for sportfishing. Given that it is designed to…

adminMarch 10, 2009

Florida Manatee Wildlife

Propeller Wound on Florida Manatee

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus) are often struck and injured by boats, in spite of laws intended to slow the passage of boats in areas inhabited by the slow-moving mammals. Manatees tend to rest below the surface, holding their breath, and surface without warning when they need to breathe. A boater…

adminMarch 9, 2009

Hawaii Humpback Whale Wildlife

Boat Strikes Humpback Whale

Some years ago, when I was assisting Dr. Dan Salden and Hawaii Whale Research Foundation during whale seaon in Hawaii, we came across a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) not far from Lahaina that showed considerable scarring, almost certainly from a boat strike. The most likely explanation for the series of…

adminMarch 8, 2009

Environmental Problems Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Seabird Entangled in Plastic

To add to my description from yesterday about the pelican entangled in a plastic bag, here is another view of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) entangled in a plastic grocery bag. I did consider making a grab for the bird (gently of course), hoping I could restrain it long…

adminMarch 7, 2009

Environmental Problems La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Pelican Entangled in Plastic Bag

Discarded plastics and styrofoam are destroying our environment. They wreak havoc especially hard on marine wildlife. I recently came across a textbook example of how such trash can injure and kill in the form of this unfortunate brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) which is entangled in what appears to be…

adminMarch 6, 2009

Galapagos Diaries Marine Life

Marine Iguana, Galapagos

Skip found a marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) foraging on algae while we were freediving along the edge of Bartolome Island, and I got a shot of it, the only one I've ever seen in the Galapagos Islands underwater: Marine iguana, underwater, forages for green algae that grows on the lava…

adminMarch 5, 2009

Galapagos Diaries Marine Life

Bigeye Jacks, Galapagos

On our 2006 trip to the Galapagos Islands, we had some very good diving at Darwin Island: hammerheads, silky sharks and spotted eagle rays galore on the shoulder of the reef, with more than a few Galapagos fur seals, turtles and various schools of fish closer to shore. At the…

adminMarch 4, 2009

Galapagos Diaries

Juvenile Frigate Bird, Galapagos

On the final day of our 1996 trip (my first) to the Galapagos Islands, we made a morning visit to North Seymour island. (Many Galapagos visitors walk ashore on North Seymour, it is one of the popular land visits due to its proximity to the airport on Baltra.) Uncertain that…

adminMarch 3, 2009

Galapagos Diaries Marine Life

Schooling Fish, Galapagos

On our 1998 trip, Tracy and I bumped into these schooling snappers while diving at Albany, one of the better dive sites in the central Galapagos Islands. Schooling fish, Albany.Image ID: 02032Location: James Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador See more schooling fish photos and Galapagos Islands photos.

adminMarch 2, 2009

Galapagos Diaries

Photo of Orange Cup Coral, Galapagos

On my first full day in the Galapagos Islands, in 1996, we made three great dives at Champion, Enderby and Devil's Crown. I was on overload all day, surrounded by schools of fish and groups of Galapagos sea lions. After all that diving, plus a visit to Floreana to see…

adminMarch 1, 2009

California La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wildlife

Pelicans in La Jolla

I went down to La Jolla this morning to see how many brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) are there. (The California race of brown pelicans has been experiencing a mysterious malady this year, with many pelicans being found weak and disoriented far away from their usual habitat.) I had not…

adminFebruary 28, 2009

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives