Eastern newts go through a “red eft” phase when they are juveniles and traveling on land from one body of water to another. They are an example of aposematism, which essentially means their bright coloration is an adaptation that serves as a warning to would-be predators that they are carrying dangerous toxins. I photographed this guy years ago in New Jersey using a close up filter screwed to the front of my lens, creating a razor thin depth of field. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/50th of a second.
This one goes out to all my friends in Detroit — here’s to another big win for the Lions tonight. This particular lion was putting on quite a show for us, rolling in the grass, licking his paws, and doing all manner of other lion things. When I snapped this shot, he was distracted by something in the distance and was on high alert and looking particularly regal. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Rocky Mountain tundra for marmots and pikas. This one is from way back in 2007. The pikas were sunning themselves with the last rays before nightfall in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm manual focus f/5.6 lens, ISO 400, f/8 at 1/250th of a second.
Some animals get a lot of descriptors in their name. This is one of them — the blue-eyed anglehead lizard. Apparently the mature males develop brilliant blue eyes as they get older. This one must be a female or young male. Either way, a cool sighting while I was hiking on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/50th of a second.
I’ve been after a beaver-out-of-water shot where you can clearly see the tail for quite a while now. I kind of got there last Friday when I visited a nearby pond and had a few seconds with this guy as he performed some quick maintenance on the side of his lodge. A tangle of twigs made it difficult, but you can see the characteristic tail falling off to the side. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 5600, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second.
First day in the Masai Mara back in June, we came across this male lion in the rain, up on a small hill, surveying his environment. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 116mm) ISO 900, f/2.8 at 1/640th of a second.
I have so many raccoon shots from my camera trap but rarely post them. Here’s one of the backyard locals from May of 2021 when they were a bit more active. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/160th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flash units.
It’s always hard to show perspective when posting dik dik’s. They’re so small, but without any reference it’s hard to tell just how small they really are. Same goes with this image, but for some reason, perhaps the angle, this Kirk’s dik dik kind of gets close to illustrating their diminutive fifteen-inch height. Photographed in Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 250, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.
Baby stump-tailed macaques can look like infants and senior citizens at the same time. This little guy was hanging out with a few friends just outside of Kaeng Krachan National Park on the Malay Peninsula of Thailand. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm), ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.
On the African savanna you find your fun wherever you can. In this case, two cheetah cubs found it in the form of elephant dung. A good time was had by all. Photographed in Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm lens, ISO 450, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
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Eastern newts go through a “red eft” phase when they are juveniles and traveling on land from one body of water to another. They are an example of aposematism, which essentially means their bright coloration is an adaptation that serves as a warning to would-be predators that they are carrying dangerous toxins. I photographed this guy years ago in New Jersey using a close up filter screwed to the front of my lens, creating a razor thin depth of field. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/50th of a second. 
