Freeze-Frame Wildlife Images

“Stopping by for a Quick Drink” – Pallid Bat - Most bats drink on the wing they fly over a body of water swing low and dip there lower jaw into the water to scoop up some water. This image was made a split second after that happened, I love the eye contact and splashing water.
“A Splash of Red” – Male Northern Cardinal – We built a reflection pond in our backyard with an in-ground blind so we could provide water for all our wildlife neighbors. As well as to have the opportunity to make images like this.
“On Silent Wings” – Great-horned Owl – I am often asked if my subjects especially the nocturnal creatures are bothered by my flashes. I have never noticed any effects on them. I had a chance to speak with a veterinary ophthalmologist once and he speculated that animal’s eyes would most likely even perceive the very fast burst of light. CC
“Mushroom Cloud” – Skullcap Fungus releasing Spores – This spongelike fungus propagates by releasing tiny spores into the air whenever something touches it like the two acorns that have fallen on it in this image. As a child I have fond memories of finding them and using my feet to help them spread their spores.
“Three Hungry Mouths to Feed” – Barn Swallows – In the Winter months the year before I made this image, I noticed the nests of these swallows in a picnic pavilion near my home. So, the next Spring I showed up in hopes of photographing the adults feeding the young. I can tell you I made many images trying to get one with all the heads in the right direction.
“Flight of the Firefly” – Firefly in Flight – This image was made with a contraption I built to photograph night insects in flight. The device used high-speed flash, laser beams, and an electromagnetic shutter to accomplish this feat.
Leapfrog” – American Bullfrog – I Love the ability of high-speed flash to stop action and give us a closer look at things our naked eye will never be able to take a closer look at. This was certainly the case with this Bullfrog image.
“On a Mission” – Bee in Flight – This was a fairly easy image to make I simply had to setup my special insect in flight system up in front of the entrance of a beehive and wait. The tricky part was to do this without making them mad and getting stung!
“Door Dash Delivery” – House Wren – This is not a particularly great image, but it has a special place in my heart. This is my very first attempt at high-speed photography. It was done on slide film and back then I had to transport all my gear out into the field by wheelbarrow, TWO TRIPS!!!
“Night Gliders” – Flying Squirrels – This was a super fun and challenging project. I really loved working with these animals they were so interesting to watch and surprisingly tame and curious, I got to know the dozen or so in my area very well that summer!
“Just Before Touch Down” – Thread-waisted Wasp – This image was certainly one of the most complicated I have ever made combining macro photography with high-speed flash and laser beam camera triggers. But I loved the challenge. This is certainly something I want to explore more when Nicole and my travel schedule settles down a bit.
“The Sky on his Back” – Eastern Bluebird – Thoreau once claimed that the male Bluebird carried the sky upon his back. Which became the inspiration for this image. When I read that quote, I realized that I had never seen an image of this bird in flight from above, so I made one!
“Sure Shot” – Archerfish – This amazing fish from Asia uses a jet of water to knock its prey into the water once in the water the fish swims over and has its dinner. I have heard stories of this fish shooting its stream of water at the glowing ember of a cigarette in someone’s hand thinking that the ember was a firefly!
“Rush Hour” – Andean Emerald and purple-throated Woodstar – Both of these birds are very small but the smaller Woodstar. Takes advantage of its size buy confusing the other birds that it is not a competitor but actually an insect. Which is why they can feed alongside the other hummers that would normally chase away another bird.
“Jungle Beauty” – Violet-tailed Sylph – Certainly one of my favorite hummingbirds from Ecuador. The male Sylph has a spectacular tail that it uses to woo females. The longer the tail the more attractive the male is to potential mates.