Photographing a Mosquito Hatching - 8
I suppose like most photographers I have a “photographic bucket-list”, and documenting the life-cycle of the much maligned Mosquito has always been high on that list. Like many of my projects this turned out to be quite the undertaking filled with many challenging and unique problems. Mosquitoes start off as eggs which hatch into larvae.…
Flying Squirrel Landing
I have to say I think Flying Squirrels are quite possibly the cutest mammal in Michigan! Although “flying” squirrel is not quite accurate. These animals are not capable of actually powered flight like birds and bats. Instead they glide like a paper airplane on a membrane of skin called a patagium. This membrane runs from…
Milky Way Time Lapse
It’s a brave new world in photography! Lots of fun and creative new possibilities. Here is my first attempt at a time lapse. This was 300 images combined into this short video. I created the images at The Headwaters Dark Park just outside of Mackinaw City in Michigan. The Headlands is one of the growing…
Firefly in Flight
And… Now for something completely different! This is (I believe) a firefly in flight. I created this image with the help of the Cognisys Insect Rig. Which combined with a dual laser beam trigger system, a high-speed electro-magnetic shutter, and high-speed flashes makes creating images like this possible. The camera’s shutter is left open on…
“Final Approach” Flying Squirrel
I have been working on this image for about 6 months now. Nearly all of that time was spent attracting the squirrels, and then subsequently training them to go where I would be able to photograph them. It has been a fun and challenging project and this is from the first night I spent actually…
Four Simple Steps to Improve your Photography
Photo Tip: Four simple things anyone can do to become a better photographer. Your photography is your art and as such there are no rules. But, here are a few very simple things you can do to immediately improve your photographs. Fill the frame: Get closer, empty space in the frame just pulls the viewers…
Detroit Performs Feature
I was very honored to have my work and myself featured on the PBS television show Detroit Performs. Special thanks to Sarah Zientarski-Smith Producer, Editor, Interviewer, and Storyteller extraordinaire, and Chad Schwartzenberger Videographer, who’s artistry and vision are very much apparent throughout the video.
Toucan Hot Tub
When I first came upon this cavity in the jungle with a Yellow-throated Toucan hanging around. I assumed it was a nest cavity. Imagine my surprise when I returned later and discovered that it was in fact a jungle Toucan hot tub! I spent the next couple of hours watching 4 or 5 Toucans come…
Costa Rica
Just returned from back to back sold out Costa Rica Photo Tours. Thanks to all the participants! I was very fortunate to have two excellent groups. Both tours were filled with great fun photographers. Here are a few highlights from the trips. First and foremost the Resplendent Quetzal, a truly amazing bird. Thought by many…
The Cognisys Sabre - 3
I finally got a chance to go out and play with my new Cognisys Sabre. The Sabre is a camera trigger that uses a LIDAR (light and radar) based sensor which emits a pulse of light and then measures the time it takes to return. When something breaks the beam it fires the camera. One…