Best photos of 2011
It was a busy and productive year for my photography. I had the opportunity to photograph prairie chickens in Nebraska, grizzly bears in Yellowstone and White Sands in New Mexico. I showed my photos at 16 art festivals, began writing photography articles for Examiner.com and won a first place in the Third Annual Audubon Magazine Photo [...]
How to be prepared for winter photography
Winter in Colorado offers many great photo opportunities. From snowy mountain sunsets, to skiing action and wildlife, this is a great time to get outdoors and make pictures. However, the extremes of Colorado winter can threaten the safety of your camera gear and you. Before you go out in the cold, prepare yourself properly. Caring [...]
The light makes the photograph
Many amateur photographers see photos made by professionals and then try to shoot a similar picture for themselves. Can’t be that hard, right? However, when amateurs look at their work the images usually don’t look as good. What’s different — besides perhaps the price tags on the gear?
Birds of Yellowstone
Yellowstone is famous for its large mammals — bison, bear, elk and others. Often overlooked are the park’s winged inhabitants. Here are some of the large birds I captured there in action.
The circle of life
May is the time for bison babies in Yellowstone. But the circle of life can be short for many newborns.
Lunchtime at the top of the food chain
Yellowstone spring: Part One On my recent trip to Yellowstone, I came across a newly deceased bison not far from the road in Lamar Valley. It was free of any visible wounds and appeared to have died from natural causes. Not interesting you say? Well, a dead bison may not be exciting to watch — until [...]
Clutch time in the trees
Springtime gives nature photographers the opportunity to photograph a variety of birds building nests and raising their young. The big cottonwood trees here in Colorado are still a few weeks away from fully leafing out, making it easier to spot birds and photograph them. Last year’s empty nests are a hub of activity. Hawks, owls [...]
My 2011 schedule of art shows
Here’s a list of where I will be showing and selling my photographs in the coming months: September 3-5 (Labor Day weekend): Gathering at the Great Divide Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday, 10 .m. – 6 p.m.; Monday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., N. Main at Wellington Streets, Breckenridge, Colorado. Sept 18-19: Estes Park Fine [...]
The call of the lek
Recently, I had the pleasure of spending a few days with photographer friend Rick Rasmussen in Grand Island, Nebraska photographing sandhill cranes and prairie chickens. Prairie chickens? Yes, indeed. Greater Prairie Chickens, (latin name Tympanuchus cupido), are members of the grouse family and are fascinating to watch and listen to. Prairie chickens are found in [...]
New Mexico’s magical light
If you’ve never been to New Mexico, you’re missing out on a delightfully diverse and picturesque state. The scenery runs the gamut from cactus desert to snowy alpine peaks. And the state’s mix of Native American, Hispanic and cowboy cultures create photographic opportunities not seen in most places. It’s no wonder that after arriving in [...]
Winter wildlife photography
Winter in Colorado is a study in extremes. One day it’s minus 7 degrees with blowing snow. Two days later it’s 50 degrees and sunny. Coloradans — and local wildlife — seem to be used to this and take the crazy weather swings in stride. Despite the cold, winter is a great time to photograph [...]
Join me in the field
For dates and details on the tours, please click here. I’ve had many requests from people asking me if I give photo tours or workshops. So without further adieu, I’m offering two photo tours for 2011. I’m focusing on two of my favorite places that I know very well: the San Juan Mountains of Colorado [...]
Taking wing
I’m happy to share the news that my photo “Mouthful of Feathers” recently won honorable mentions in a couple of annual nature photography contests. First is the North American Nature Photographers Association 2011 Showcase competition. The other is the National Wildlife Refuge Association. There were more than 3800 entries combined in these two contests. Being [...]
Autumn in the Rockies
It’s fall and a not-so-young photographer’s fancy turns to autumn colors. Autumn is my favorite time of year, especially in the Rocky mountains. Cold crisp mornings, warm sunny afternoons — it’s a pleasure to be out enjoying the blazing golds and reds of the aspens at their fall-color peak. This year, I decided to spend [...]
Alpine retreat from the heat
As the temperatures rise in Denver, many inhabitants take to the mountains for relief. Mountain goats, however, don’t have to leave home to stay cool. They just amble a little farther up Mt. Evans and find a shady spot. It’s peak time right now to see mountain goats and big horn sheep surrounded by wildflowers [...]
Waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge
While on my visit to the Palouse Country of Eastern Washington last month, I took a side journey to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon. I wanted to explore the lush wooded forests of the area and see of few of the area’s famous waterfalls. Multnomah Falls is the area’s most famous [...]
The rustic beauty of the Palouse Country
I’ve just returned from my first visit to the Palouse area of eastern Washington, and I’m very excited about the images I made there. The Palouse is a 2,000-square-mile area around Colfax, Washington made up of rolling farmland of wheat, barley, peas, lentils and mustard. Century-old barns, grain elevators and rusting farm equipment dot the [...]
Whooooo’s there?
I made my first trip to the Pawnee National Grasslands in northeastern Colorado recently. The grasslands are a mecca for bird watchers, with many interesting species calling the vast flatlands home. I was on the lookout for one bird in particular — the burrowing owl. These elusive creatures are the only owl that make their [...]
Springtime focus on bird photography
My local pond has become a hub of bird activity this month. Avocets, pelicans, cormorants, blue herons and snowy egrets — to name a few — appear there nearly everyday to feed on plants and small fish in the shallow waters. I’ve made almost 1,000 images at the pond, including this set of pictures of [...]
More wildlife photos from my own backyard
In my last blog, I talked about the importance of exploring areas close to home for wildlife photo opportunities. I took my own advice and made a point of working the small pond near my neighborhood. The pond is about one acre or less in size, yet still attracts pelicans, great blue herons, egrets and [...]
Look for great photos in your own backyard
The appeal of making pictures in far-off locales is strong. But if you look carefully, you may be able to answer the call of the wild in your own backyard.
To crop or not to crop — the results are in
A while back, I talked about a photo I made at Toroweap Point along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I asked blog readers if they preferred the cropped or uncropped version of this photo. I got several responses and tucked them away until I could revisit this topic. The results are in, and [...]
What’s your favorite place to shoot in Colorado?
Those of you in Colorado are blessed to live in a state with dramatic scenery, abundant wildlife and a wealth of outdoor opportunities. There’s no shortage of amazing places to make pictures. Everyone has a favorite place or two. I have many of them. One is probably on your list as well — Mt. Evans. [...]
The secret of digital panoramas
During my three-show tour of Arizona in March, the photo that sparked the most comments was a digital panoramic image of Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park. Granted, the six-foot image was hard to miss for anyone walking by my booth in Glendale, Tucson or Tempe. This image started many conversations. The most frequently [...]
