There are about 3,000 species of dragonflies in the world, and they inhabit the entire planet with the exception of Antarctica. They have not changed much since they flew on their webbed wings over the Carboniferous swamps of what is now Europe, more than three hundred million years ago. Well,...
Essays and Inspiration Category Archive
Every Bird Has a Secret
In every genre of photography, there seems to be a lesson that must be learned in order to get good photos more easily. For example, portrait photographers often talk about developing a rapport with their subjects, and from own experience with portraits, I do think that's true. But what about...
Four Intuitive Steps for Meaningful Photography
Photography, by its very nature, is not just about reproducing what the photographer sees but about expressing our inner thoughts. When I journey through the natural world, my interactions with the places and wild animals I witness have stirred so many emotions in my heart. As a photographer, then, the...
Photographing the Fiery Topaz: A Feathered Gemstone of the Amazon
The green shadows of the Amazon hide many treasures. From the gold and riches that played a role in the plundering of the world's largest rainforest, to the ones I'm after — living treasures. One river, the Napo, plays a central role in both types. The Napo River is part...
When the Photographer Does Not Shoot
Often, photographers are driven by the obsessive need to capture the moment, to be productive at all costs. Recently, however, I rewatched a movie that contained a different reflection, one that I would like to share with you today. It is the beauty of choosing not to shoot, to fully...
Under the Wings of the Condors: A Photo Story
It was just before five in the morning. The páramo, and the sky above, were still lit only by thousands of stars. High in the Ecuadorian Andes, the nights are cold. And the fact that the equator lies just 50 kilometers away changes nothing about that. Here, on the Earth's...
Photographing the Muskox in Dovrefjell During Winter
In this article, I will share my experience taking photos of the muskox in Norway’s Dovrefjell National Park in the heart of winter. You can consider this my continuation of the essay “Photographing the Muskox in a Winter Wonderland” previously published on Photography Life by Dr. Michael Rübhausen.
The Red-Winged Blackbird
Some say flowers herald the coming of spring, but I feel it is the song of the Red-winged Blackbird that signifies the change of seasons. I still remember their beautiful call one very cold morning near the end of winter, before the growth of any plant or the disappearance of ice.
The Right Time, the Wrong Place: A Story of Wildlife Photography
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.
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,...