You might be smiling ironically right now, thinking those words – “the right time, the wrong place” – sum up a misadventure you’ve had as a wildlife photographer. And because I know that shared misery is half the misery, let me reassure you with this little story that you are not alone.
Essays and Inspiration Category Archive
Photographing “Little Brown Jobs” – The Beauty of Less-Loved Birds
Open any bird guide, from any country or region, and you'll quickly notice that most birds are, well... brown. Some might even call their appearance boring. But I disagree. Personally, I have a soft spot for what we in the Czech Republic call "the universal brown birds." In English-speaking countries,...
Photographing Beauty in Ugly Places
Wildlife photography is usually associated with breathtaking natural beauty, the soothing silence of forest groves, or the fresh scent of meadow flowers. But today's article is about something completely different. I want to show you that beautiful wildlife photos can be taken in a completely different environment - in the...
Photographing Container Ships: The Linchpin in the Global Supply Chain
Last month marked one year since the container ship Dali tragically struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on the night of March 26, 2024, causing shock and headlines around the world. The horrific disaster resulted in the death of six construction workers that night, damage to...
Photography: The Search for Ephemeral Worlds
The other day, I tried to list everything that contributes to a good photo. What are the crucial ingredients? High on the list were two things: thinking actively about composition in the field, and deliberate and careful post-processing. But what sustains the activity of going and taking those photos in...
One Day, I Found a Dancing Star in the Woods
With my backpack loaded with equipment, I entered the woods. Normally, there, I would be photographing roe deer. However, my goal this time was different: to photograph the Dog’s-Tooth-Violet (Erythronium dens-canis) so as to highlight the elegant shape and colorful nuances of this beautiful flower.
Finding a Photographic Style in Nature Photography
In nature photography – where the image is unlikely to be prepared, posed, or lit by the photographer – one’s unique personal style may be less apparent than, say, in a studio portrait. A photographer cannot claim full responsibility for results that heavily depend on natural conditions, right? Well, I disagree.
Photographing and Enjoying Alberta’s Nose Hill Park
It's an abrupt transition, going from the tropics of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to the sparse plains of Alberta over ten thousand kilometers away, especially when that transition also goes from the Austral summer to the Boreal winter. This transition is one of landscapes, wildlife, and ecology, and it is...
The Chimborazo Hillstar: A High-Altitude Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are commonly thought of as a typical tropical bird family. And for the most part, this perception is accurate - of the 363 species of hummingbirds, the vast majority thrive in tropical environments. But some species inhabit such extreme habitats that few would expect to find tiny, fragile hummingbirds...
Why You Should Capture Animal Behavior in Wildlife Photography
Wildlife photography is a fascinating and challenging field that requires technical skill, patience, and a deep understanding of wildlife. One of the most significant parts of this art form is to capture the behavior of animals in their natural habitat. By doing so, you can improve your photos and contribute...