November 4, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER    "Low Snow, Lower Temperatures"

Waterfall Icicles, Alaska Range Mountains

In early November, after a rather warm fall marked by storm after storm, the night temperatures are slowly falling into the single digits. The jet stream that directed the storms over Alaska since August has now shifted south, allowing cold air from the north to sink over us. So far, little snow has fallen.

This little waterfall is still flowing and the spray is producing interesting icicles in the process.

iPhone 16 Pro, lens at 6.7mm, exposure of 1/1500 second at f1.8, ISO 64.

October 1, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER    "Wait For Me!"

Emperor Geese, Cold Bay, Alaska Peninsula

Being from Interior Alaska, the Emperor Goose is a new species for me. Maybe not in huge numbers, but they are common in the Aleutian Islands and the western coastlines of Alaska. Nesting is primarily in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Sadly, this image is just one of the few keeper images from the trip, as I soon found that camera gear doesn't like swimming...

Canon R5 Mark II, RF100-500mm lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/1000 at f7.1, ISO 1000, handheld.

September 2, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER    "Better Safe Than Sorry"

Brown Bear Sow And Cubs, Chinitna Bay, Alaska

To avoid conflicts, bears spend much of their day on constant alert for bears higher up on the hierarchy. And if you are a sow with young cubs, that is especially true since boars are known to kill cubs in the hope that he will be able to mate with the sow.

This mother of two spring cubs spotted another bear in the distance, and being cautious, decided that flight was best. Turned out it was a juvenile, who was probably just as scared as she was.

Visit the new Alaskan Brown Bear portfolio HERE

Canon R5 Mark II, RF600 f4 lens, exposure of 1/640 at f4.5, ISO 100, on a Feisol CT3001 tripod.

July 30, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST    "Moochers"

Brown Bear sow and cubs, Chinitna Bay, Alaska

Coastal Brown Bears (aka Grizzly Bears) are omnivorous, each spring feeding mainly on vegetation until the salmon return during the summer. But until then, they also dig clams from the mudflats exposed by the low tide. The bears can smell the clams and dig down to find them, and deftly use either a claw or a tooth to pry open the clamshell and eat the contents.

These young cubs are quickly learning to do the same, but it is much easier to mooch a meal from their mother!

Canon R5 Mark II, RF600 f4 lens, exposure of 1/800 at f5, ISO 400, on a Feisol CT3001 tripod.

July 7, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JULY    "Roller"

Three Year Old Brown Bear, Great Bear Rain Forest, British Columbia

While all the mature bears were a mile away chomping on the lush sedges in the estuary, this 3 year old male fed undisturbed on the rocky shoreline--on eels, needlefish and insects stranded under the rocks as the tide dropped. Bears are omnivores, but vegetation makes up most of their diet.

We found him each day rolling over rocks to reveal his meals, hence, we named him "Roller".

Canon R5 Mark II, RF100-500 lens at 270mm, exposure of 1/800 at f8, ISO 4000, handheld.

June 2, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE    "Wild, Sort Of..."

Mature Bald Eagle, First Nation Village Of Gingolx, British Columbia

In the wild, Bald Eagles usually don't allow you to approach too close before flying away; in the zoo your photo usually shows evidence of confinement; but along the docks where fishermen unload their catch and toss the fish entrails back into the ocean, the normally wild eagles let their stomachs overrule their precaution. But then, chaos rules as eagles and seagulls fight over the scraps and eagle portraits are impossible.

But today at low tide with no fish boats at the dock, this eagle didn't mind a photographer getting close for a portrait...

Canon R5 Mark II, RF100-500 lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/1000 at f8, ISO 1250, handheld.

April 30, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MAY    "Wardrobe Malfunction"

Snowshoe Hare Turning Color Too Soon, Interior Alaska

I've written before about Snowshoe Hares turning white too early in the fall, making them more obvious to predators, but this spring (after a warm winter) my resident 'BunBun' is turning brown early as spring snows still fall. I believe this is the same resident hare for at least 3 years.

Canon R5 Mark II, RF100-500 lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/640 at f7.1, ISO 400, handheld.

March 30, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL    "Not Exactly Wildlife"

Open North American Championship Sled Dog Race, Fairbanks, Alaska

Wild-eyed, yes, but these athletes are giving everything they've got during the start of the race. Not your typical long-haired husky or malmute, but mixed breeds selected for their short hair, speed and endurance.

Canon R5 Mark II, RF100-500 lens at 300mm, exposure of 1/2500 at f7.1, ISO 320, handheld.

March 2, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH    "Nature As An Artist"

Unnamed river along the Southern Coast of Iceland

Standing along this river in Iceland one sees a normal river, but elevate your view with a drone and you'll see a totally different sight. The flow of water over the irregular river gravel produces intricate patterns, accentuated by orangish water from recent heavy rains, revealing the hidden artistry of Nature.

DJI Mini 3 Pro, 6.72mm lens (equivalent to 24mm), exposure of 1/1000 at f1.7, ISO 100.

February 5, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY    "The Big Gulp"

Along the Rio Piquiri in the Pantanal, Brazil

Herons patiently wait on a branch over the river’s edge for a fish or crustacean or aquatic insect larvae to pass by, but this Rufescent Tiger Heron scored big when a large Snow Pieco fish appeared. After a little finessing to align with it's throat, Gulp! and it was gone.

Guess it won't be hungry for awhile...

Canon R5, RF100-500 lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/500 at f8, ISO 5000, handheld.

December 31, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY    "A Shot In The Dark"

Along the Rio Piquiri in the Pantanal, Brazil

Probably a dozen boats of tourists waited on the river for this male Jaguar and his mate to stir, and as darkness descended, the boats left one by one. Being photographers, our boat waited until basically dark, and were rewarded as the male walked to the river to drink.

Only because of a state-of-the-art camera and software was I able to resurrect this image from the dark...

Canon R5, RF100-500 lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/500 at f7.1, ISO 12,800, handheld. DxO PureRAW 4 used to reduce the sensor noise.