Brown Pelican
Pelicans are always fun to shoot, especially in flight. I got out to La Jolla on a recent business trip to San Diego and spent a morning watching them coming and going on the steep cliffs on the north edge of town. This guy was obviously coming in for a landing after a flight out to sea.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second
Long Tailed Macaque
These long tailed macaques (also known as crab eating macaques) were fairly common around the hut I was staying at in Borneo. The light was low, so I decided to experiment with a few slow shutter flash exposures. This one was shot at just 1/8th of a second. The flash froze the eyes but little else.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 240mm) ISO 800, f/6.3 at 1/8th of a second, two Nikon SB-900 flash units
Wombat and Sun Rays
Maria Island in Tasmania is overflowing with animals. They’re everywhere. And when the day comes to an end, you don’t have to look long to find subjects to photograph in front of the setting sun. This wombat was enjoying a late day snack of, well, the same thing it was eating all day and every day — grass. They really are the lawnmowers of the island and keep the open lawns cropped tight.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 800, f/14 at 1/250th of a second
Mating Frogs
I have no idea what species of frog these two are. What I do know, is that that’s not a baby catching a ride on its mother’s back. I came across the amorous duo on a night hike in Tangkahan, on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/8 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-800 flash units
Another One From El Matador Beach
I like to shoot at landscape locations well after the sun has set. Especially when there is water and clouds to record with a slow exposure — this one being 13 seconds. Another great thing about sticking it out is that all the other photographers leave. El Matador is such a popular location that it can be difficult to get photos in the best spots.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 200, f/18 at 13 seconds
Moose
Sandy Stream Pond sits at the base of Mount Katahdin in Maine’s Baxster State Park. It’s a great place to spot moose grazing in the shallow water. They love the nutrient-rich grasses that grown on the bottom of the pond. This cow had just surfaced with a mouth full of the good stuff.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second