Animal Scapes

“Pretty in Pink” – I can tell you from experience that seeing a flock of over two million Flamingos takes your breath away! They gather on Lake Bogoria in Kenya because it is super-alkaline and produces the Blue-green algae they feed on.
“Anticipation” – I saw the possibility of this image before it happened. The rest of the giraffe herd had moved over to feed on some acacias off to camera left. I hoped this giraffe would follow the rest of the family and in the process walk right through the frame. I framed up the shot and waited to fire off my camera at 12 frames per second as it walked through the scene.
“Northern Sunrise” - I had the privilege of spending nine consecutive years photographing loons in Northern Michigan. Many mornings, as I floated past this spot in search of the loons I would imagine this very image. Finally, one day the loons, the light and the moment all came together. Making for one of my favorite images from this nine years of work.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” – In the Fall, Bohemian Waxwings form flocks sometimes numbering over a thousand birds. These flocks travel about feeding on over wintering fruit trees. I photographed this flock in Yellowstone as they perched, filling out the bare limbs like leaves of the tree.
“Morning Reveille” – One of the first birds to return to Michigan every Spring are the Red-winged Blackbirds. Males are the first to arrive and when they do, each must stake out and hold onto a piece of territory in the marsh. Their call is way of saying, “I have arrived, and this piece of marsh is MINE!”
“Among the Kopjes” – Kopjes are islands of rock in a sea of grass. These unusual granite rock formations are found throughout the Serengeti and are magnets for wildlife as they harbor different plants for the ungulates to graze upon. They also provide a great vantage point for predators to survey the plains in their search for prey.
“At the River’s Edge” – A Brown Bear pauses to take in the stunning Alaskan scenery. It was raining hard when I made this photograph, giving this image a softness that I really like. Photographing in all the weather conditions often yields unexpected results, often bringing out textures and color.
“Serenety”- The Cypress swamps of the American South are among the most haunting landscapes that we visit. The combination of centuries old Cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss, and quiet waters to reflect the beauty all lead to a feeling of serenity and peace that is hard to find in other places.
“Lessons” - In Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park, a Mother Brown Bear is out on the clamming flats teaching her cub how to dig for Razor Clams. This is an important skill for an Alaskan Brown Bear since clams make up an important part of their diet after waking from their long winters sleep.
“On the Move” - This image is from my very first trip to Africa. In it, the Matriarch leads her family to another area to feed. Elephant herds are led by the older females whose knowledge and wisdom help the herd navigate the never-ending challenges that they face.
“Call of the Wild” – I have been fortunate enough to have been out West dozens of times to witness the Elk rut. When I see this image, I can virtually hear the Elk’s bugle as it echoes through the valleys. Like the roar of a lion, the howl of a wolf, or the morning calls of Howler Monkeys, these are the true sounds of wilderness.
“Along a Fence Row” – The American Kestrel is North America’s smallest and most common falcon. It is also, in my opinion, one of our most beautiful raptors. They can often be seen perched or even hovering above a meadow as they hunt for grasshoppers and small rodents. CC
“At the Foot of Giants” – This is a Guancao, a close relative of the llama which lives in the antiplano of the southern Andes. They can live at up to 13,000 feet! In order to survive at such altitudes their blood has four times the number of red blood cells that we have.
“Icons of the Andes” - At the southern end of the Andes in Patagonia are three towers (Torres del Paine in Spanish). Two of these towers make the backdrop for this Puma photograph. As a photographer I must admit that finding yourself in front of scenes like this are the things dreams are made of!
“Chubby Unicorn” – As the White Rhinoceros becomes harder and harder to find in the wild, they become increasingly more like the mythical unicorn. A foggy morning in Kenya is almost as rare. So this particular morning we were lucky to find a spectacular mother with her yearling calf on this misty morning.