BEST OF 2012

Each January Jim Goldstein, a colleague, posts on his blog a list of photographers who submit their Top Ten (or 12) images for the previous year. You can see the list here. I missed this year so I'm going to put my 2012 images here and more on my updated image database here.

This is an endangered wild Great Green Macaw. Only 30 nesting pairs left in Costa Rica. This has to be my favorite image because I'd been searching for several years to find them. I also photographed the nest with both parents.

This is another favorite from our 2012 adventure guiding a tour to Costa Rica. It has a simplistic style often seen in Asian art.

I was in the water with this bear as he was fishing for Salmon on Admiralty Island the day after our summer Alaska Adventure Workshop.

This bear was lounging in the grasses. The angle of his head makes him very personable...or hungry.

My tribute to Jackson Pollack. Standing on a foot bridge enjoying the view, camera in hand, when this beaver swam right under me.

I had just told the captain that I wanted the sun behind us on a workshop I was leading in Alaska. Instead I got this wonderful back light. Glad he didn't listen to me.

I have a similar photo of a cow moose coming toward me from a couple of years ago, very close. This bull moose was probably wondering what I was doing crouched down in the sage. I was getting a low angle for one of my favorite images of 2012.

Custer State Park in South Dakota is probably the best state park in the country for wildlife. I seldom get the chance to photograph white-tailed deer and I was pretty excited to get this one during the rutting season.

I love slow mo. 

And I love the square format. I should do more.

The day was ending and there was barely enough light to shoot. I was able to get this last one as the tide retreated at the San Francisco Bay Wetlands.

Right out of a cowboy movie and into the sunset.

This shot of a gull gulping down a salon egg surprised me. 

I was shooting flies when this bison walked into the frame.

Early morning in Yellowstone. Does it get any better?

My buddy the Badger. We had a nice visit.

Night shot at Old Faithful in Yellowstone. The big dipper hangs while the show goes on.

Great-horned owl puts on a nice display for me.

A bald eagle has found a most picturesque perch. We have one thing in common, we're both called baldy.

These are some of my favorites for 2012. I hope you enjoy them. I had a ball making them.

Yellowstone River

Tweaked in Lightroom 4 this image from the Yellowstone Workshop is special to me. Very early morning, the fog, the reflection, the sounds of birds and 6 busy photographers interpreting their vision in digital photography. No 2 images exactly alike as we stood just feet from each other on the bank.

What's unique is our experiences. Our experiences influence are art but should not overpower our subject.

Yellowstone Teton Spring Success!

We're back from a fantastic series of spring workshops in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. A few of what we saw and photographed:
Young Great Horned Owls in nest (see above)
Bluebird Nesting
Flicker feeding chicks in nest
Bison with new calfs
Elk with calf
Grizzly bears with cubs
Black Bears with cubs
Wolf close enough for photos
Moose with calf
Beavers
Marmot
and not 1, but 2 Badgers on the same day!

We also had plenty of opportunities for great landscapes of the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone River, Morning fog, and geysers. More photos click here

Thanks to all who participated.

Now we're getting ready for an amazing Alaska Adventure!

Great News!

Waiting for Wisdom

This Saturday, July 31 is the Wildflower Festival at Kirkwood. You've heard me rave about it before. This is the only outdoor show we do and we have a blast!

• Music
• BBQ
• Wine and Beer tasting
• Guided Hikes
• Ride the chair lift
and of course, lots of art! Including my newest images of an owl nest that you won't want to miss. And more large cloth panels to delight your visual senses.
NOON to 5 PM Kirkwood California
See you there!





Badgers










More good news!

I'm heading up a Wildlife Photography Workshop in the Grand Tetons this fall. (see side bar)

I'll be the workshop leader for Nikonians Academy and look forward to many new adventures. Hope you'll join in.

Our MarchTour to Costa Rica is reserved for photographers though Nikonians and we are in the planning stages for Africa next May.

The two tours to Costa Rica in February still have seats available so let us know if you are interested.

Hummers are back!

You may remember that last year I photographed dozens of rufous hummingbirds feeding on thistle that had come up after the big Tahoe fire. I was wondering if they would return this year along with the thistle. Well they have! What a treat. Dozens of little hummingbirds protecting their small territory among the patches of thistle.

Lots of other stuff is going on in the burn area; houses being built. the fireweed is in full display, a red-shouldered hawk is working the area, tons of different wildflowers have sprouted up. All in all, a great place to see how nature rebounds.

If you want to know exactly where the hummers are, shoot me an email. It is really something to experience.

If you would like to attend a "Workshop by the Day" to see and photograph hummingbirds, improve your skills, and learn lots of stuff about photography and nature, let me know.