The Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota) can be nearly a meter long and weigh eight kilograms, or more than 17 pounds. These squirrel-related creatures inhabit the alpine steppes of some of the world’s most dramatic mountain ranges.
Essays and Inspiration Category Archive - Page 4
Exploring Brazil’s Remnant Atlantic Forest
Somewhere near the meeting of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais lie the partial remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. I recently had the opportunity to explore this fragile region with my wife and see some of the less common species of flora and fauna in South America....
When the Stars Align: The 2023 Solar Eclipse and the Role of Luck in Photography
Well, perhaps a better title for this article would be “when the Sun, the Moon, and some clouds align” as I will be sharing my experience photographing the 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse! It's a story of luck and coincidence, but also a story of being ready for anything as a...
Photographing the 2023 Solar Eclipse from Arizona
I just got back from a trip to the American Southwest where I photographed landscapes, the Milky Way, and a rare annular ("ring of fire") solar eclipse. My bag was filled with lenses that I'll be reviewing imminently - some from Nikon, of course, along with a few Canons and...
Photographing an Uncommon Behavior of the Common Toad
To see something extraordinary, you don’t always have to travel to the other side of the world. Sometimes all you need to do is put on your slippers and step outside your door. That’s exactly the case with the story I’m about to tell you today about the Common Toad.
Ecuadorian Pacific: Fishermen on the Edge of the Tide
What is the oldest profession in the world? Although the most common answer to that question is... well, a different source of livelihood, I'm not far from the truth when I say it's fishing. We can find depictions of fishing on cave walls, as well as in the tombs of...
Scientific Photography: Where Art and Science Collide
Scientific photography bridges the intersection between art and science. It combines what I love about photography with the process of discovery, truth-seeking, and documentation. The end goal is not just to understand the world around us but to depict our discoveries in an inspirational way.
Where Artificial Intelligence Will and Won’t Replace Photography
I can't think of any technology right now that has more hype around it than artificial intelligence. It's not entirely unearned hype, either - I tend to be pretty skeptical of "the next big thing," but some of the feats in the AI world are nothing short of stunning. It's...
Photographing the Fluorescent Bones of Amphibians using “X-Ray Vision”
"How did you make that photo look like an x-ray?" It’s one of the questions I get asked most frequently, usually referring to one of the images below. The answer is that I get this x-ray effect by using fluorescent lighting while photographing some species of amphibian! Here's a quick...
Challenges of Bird Photography in São Paulo, Brazil
Wildlife photography has taken me to many places around the world, both exotic and familiar. In the realm of the familiar, I have one vivid memory from last year, from back in my home town Ottawa. I remember lying in the snow and holding my D500, just waiting for a...