Just a simple shot of a black bear resting in a tree. This was taken at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary in Orr, Minnesota. These bears are wild, but food is put out in the forest to attract them to the research center.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm (at 130mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/160th of a second
Also known as the lined shore crab, this handsome purple and green crab ranges from Vancouver Island down to Baja California in Mexico. They can also be found in the Western Pacific in both Korea and Japan. I photographed this one in the town of Moss Landing in California at Elkhorn Slough. Elkhorn Slough is also a great place for sea otters, sea lions and harbor seals.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/15th of a second
One of the best things about our recent move from Brooklyn to Scarsdale has been the ability to find life forms other than people, pigeons and rats. Actually, there were plenty of birds in the city too, but nice to be able see such a variety in my own backyard. Below are just a few of the species that stopped by this weekend.
Tufted Titmouse
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second
Northern Cardinal
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
Black-Capped Chickadee
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second
Hairy Woodpecker
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/2500th of a second
White-Throated Sparrow
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/2500th of a second
Although they may look like it, pikas are not rodents. They are members of the lagomorpha order which includes rabbits and hares. They live high in rocky alpine regions of North America and are helpful to scientific study of climate change because of their extreme sensitivity to temperature. In fact, they can not tolerate highs in the mid 70s for more than six hours or they will die. Due to this, they are known as an indicator species, and studying their movements tells us much about the changing conditions of where they live. In recent years they’ve been migrating to higher and higher altitudes seeking colder weather. For this reason, I think of them as an ominous metaphor for our own species — if they keep climbing higher in search of a healthy place to exist, they’ll eventually run out of room. This little guy — sounding an alarm call — was photographed in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 400, f/8 at 1/250th of a second
I met this young red fox several years back at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. He/she had one sibling and they were playing around with each other having a good old time while their mother was out hunting for breakfast.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/250th of a second
As you guys know, I don’t always post pictures that I shot the current calendar year. I often post from previous years, but I do try to continually add new photos to the collection. The following are what I consider my top twelve images that were posted — as well as taken — in 2016. I didn’t get out quite as much this year, but did manage to start the year strong with several work trips to California, another to Toronto, followed by a week in Panama, a short visit to my mother in Florida, and finally, a week in Thailand last month. Each trip is represented, and in the order that they were taken. Happy New Year everyone. Thanks for continuing to check out my daily posts. I really appreciate it and the positive feedback keeps me excited to mine my collection each night to find just the right shot.
Following a work trip to San Diego back in January, I tacked on a few days and headed north to La Jolla in search of the “Potholes” at Hospitals Reef. On the way, I caught this morning glimpse of Brandt’s cormorants nesting on a cliff while a Western gull flew past. (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 400, f/11 at 1/100th of a second.)
And below is the aforementioned “Potholes.” (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 400, f/11 at 1/100th of a second.)
Speaking of Brandt’s cormorants, I met this bold individual two months later at El Matador Beach in Malibu. Always nice when your subject allows you to get so close that you can use a fisheye lens. (Nikon D810 with Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, ISO 200, f/22 at 1/200th of a second, Nikon SB-900 flash unit.)
In May, I headed to Toronto for a few weeks to shoot a commercial. In between our busy work schedule, I was able to explore the area’s wildlife hotspots, including several sites around Lake Ontario where I captured this mute swan at sunset. (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.)
Later in the month, I headed down to Panama for a five night trip. At the top of my wish list was the keel-billed toucan. I saw quite a few at the Canopy Tower Lodge in Soberania National Park not too far from Panama City. This one was feeding on a seed from a cecropia tree. (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/320th of a second.)
Also from the Canopy Tower was this three-toed sloth. (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 250mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/100th of a second.)
A few hours north brought me to the town of El Valle where I spotted several canal zone tree frogs at night. (Nikon D800 with Nikkor 105mm macro lens, ISO 200, f/25 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-900 flash units.)
In early July, it was off to Florida for a visit to my mother. We took her to one of my favorite spots, the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The star attraction at the refuge is the roseate spoonbill. This one was coming in for a landing near three white ibis. (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/2000th of a second.)
My biggest trip of the year was only a week long, but I saw quite a variety of wildlife in Thailand. Especially in Kaeng Krachan National Park where I camped for three nights. Every night, Malayan porcupines came around the campsite looking for scraps. The predictability of their visits allowed me to be ready with two flash units placed in advantages locations for front and back light. (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 210mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-900 flash units.)
I also saw plenty of little creatures like this red long-horned spider. (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 105mm macro lens, ISO 1600, f/6.3 at 1/60th of a second.)
I photographed five primate species, including the white-handed gibbon. (Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/5000th of a second.)
And finally, this masked palm civet who was kind enough to stop by while I had my light set up for the porcupines. (Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 400, f/18 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-900 flash units.)
Just a simple prairie dog doing his prairie dog thing in the Badlands of South Dakota. These guys always look like they’re about to start dancing.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1600 of a second
Used to be that seeing a coyote was at least somewhat of a rare sighting, but these days they seem to be everywhere. There was even one spotted on the roof of a bar here in Queens last year. I photographed this wily beast while hiking up Box Springs Mountain Park near Moreno Valley, California. The setting seemed a tad more coyote-like than the rooftop of a New York bar.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/5000th of a second
Here’s another look at an America bison. I mentioned in my last bison post that their iconic shape makes them great subjects for wide, environmental shots. They also make for interesting close ups, with their distinctive horns, large eyes and overall furry-ness.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/4000th of a second
Black bears are very good climbers and this young cinnamon black bear appeared to be having a good old time climbing through the trees in a northern Minnesota forest.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/400th of a second