No animal in this one, just the glory of terra firma to celebrate on Earth Day. This was taken on Mount Rainier many years ago when the mid-summer alpine wildflowers were at their best. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 19mm), graduated neutral density filter, ISO 200, f/18 at 1/25th of a second.
With an average lifespan of 150 years, Galápagos giant tortoises are the oldest reptiles on planet earth. And they really are giants — full grown adults can exceed 550 pounds. They also happen to be endangered and have become a flagship species for conservation efforts in their isolated home range. It was a great experience to be in their presence in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 22mm) ISO 400, f/7.1 at 1/1000th of a second.
Identifying the various species and sub-species of squirrel monkeys can get confusing. This is the Bolivian squirrel monkey, but also goes by the yellow squirrel monkey. Photographed from a boat in Madidi National Park in the Bolivian Amazon. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/125th of a second.
Gambel’s quail are quite sartorial with that head plume they strut around with. These birds spend the majority of their time on the ground, only occasionally taking to the air. I photographed this one in the Anza-Borrego desert of southern California. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
A lone bighorn sheep doing what bighorn sheep do, high on an eroded butte in Badlands National Park. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/1000th of a second.
Word for the day — synanthrope. Wikipedia defines a synanthrope as a member of a species of wild animal or plant that lives near, and benefits from, an association with human beings and the somewhat artificial habitats that people create around themselves. Thus is the case with long-tailed macaques, also known as crab-eating macaques. In many areas of southeast Asia, where there is human population, there are long-tailed macaques. Although, I question the part of the definition “benefits from.” True, these monkeys scavenge human garbage, which isn’t necessarily beneficial to the health of the species, but they are also a common monkey in human health experiments due to their genetic commonalities with us. I photographed this one outside a temple in Thailand. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second.
Impala are among the most graceful of Africa’s antelopes. They can run at speeds of almost 40 miles per hour and leap ten feet in the air while covering a distance of over 30 feet. I photographed these two in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.
Days are short come November in northern Manitoba. But when the sun gets low on the horizon it can cast a magical glow across the frozen landscape. When a polar bear just so happens to be walking past, things get even better. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 82mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/1600th of a second.
The rain doesn’t stop a black-backed jackal from getting out and searching around for a few savanna scraps to scavenge. This image was captured in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second.
Rainbow Lorikeets are fairly common birds in Australia, but they can be difficult to photograph because they’re usually high in the treetops. I was able to get this pair out in the open for a quick moment. Photographed years ago in Noosa, Australia. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.