November 30, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER    "Schooner Stuck In Ice (not)"

In Scoresby Sound, Eastern Greenland

Some tourists prefer the romantic idea of touring the East Coast of Greenland in an old schooner, not realizing that the sails will never be unfurled or that sleeping accommodations resemble a sardine can.

While it might appear that this schooner is icebound or about to crash into an iceberg, the captain is just giving the passengers a sense of what could happen in the Arctic. No schooners were harmed in the process!

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/1000 sec at f7.1, ISO 400, handheld.

October 28, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER    "Holey Iceberg"

In Scoresby Sound, Eastern Greenland

Surprisingly, icebergs with an arch aren't that rare. After an iceberg 'calves' from a tidewater glacier, the fresh water ice begins to melt in the warmer ocean water and is also subject to wave action which causes weaker sections to fall off, often forming an arch.

This iceberg is probably 150 feet tall--remember, the other 90% of this iceberg is underwater!

Canon R5, EF24-70 f4.5-7.1 lens at 63mm, exposure of 1/250 sec at f8, ISO 200, handheld.

October 8, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER    "First Major Snowfall"

Denali National Park, Alaska

In the first days of October we received 3-4 inches of snow in the Alaska Range Mountains, the first major snowfall of this fall. On my daily walk I found this scene--snow covered trees with more snow blowing in from the South, and the ever flowing Nenana River.

Several days of warm wind melted this snow, but last night it was replaced by 3-4 inches more...

iPhone 13 Pro, lens at 1.6mm, exposure of 1/619 sec at f1.8, ISO 32, handheld.

October 9, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER    "Black & White & Green"

In The Highlands Of Iceland

A quickly passing snow squall filled the erosion channels in the black lava sand, emphasizing the interesting patterns, while the pioneering clumps of green grass add a bit of color contrast.

Canon R5, EF24-70 f4.5-7.1 lens at 45mm, exposure of 1/160 sec at f7.1, ISO 1600, handheld.

October 8, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST   "Noisy Fishing Hole"

The South Coast of Iceland

The Olfusa River drains into the nearby Atlantic Ocean, and any salmon that might want to spawn upriver are stopped by these impressive double waterfalls. Fishermen naturally capitalize on these stopped fish, but it sure is a noisy experience so close to both waterfalls!

Canon R5, EF24-70 f4.5-7.1 lens at 70mm, exposure of 1/125 sec at f7.1, ISO 100, handheld.

July 16, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JULY    "Tele-Zoom As A Macro Lens"

The Copper Country Of Michigan's Upper Peninsula

One of the often overlooked features of the Canon RF100-500 lens is it's close focusing capabilities. Amazingly sharp and contrasty, it focuses to about 36 inches (0.33X magnification) and when used with the 45MP R5 body, the image can be cropped to true macro lens quality.

So when I'm out photographing wildlife with this lens and happen to see a macro lens sized subject, I don't have to keep walking...

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 420mm and cropped, exposure of 1/400 sec at f7.1, ISO 200, handheld.

May 29, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE    "Ravens In Love"

Denali National Park, Alaska

For a very common and conspicuous bird, the ravens are quite secretive of where they nest. Since many areas of Denali are treeless and without power poles to build their nests, they tend to build on steep cliffs.

But when it comes to courting, any old tree along the Park Road will do...

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 500mm and cropped, exposure of 1/1000 sec at f8, ISO 1000, handheld.

April 27, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MAY    "Pretty Invasive"

Near Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand

What most people who love the bright colors that the Lupine adds to the landscape don’t realize is that Lupines are a non-native invasive species that is forcing out the native species of both plants and birds. Typically the lupines are found along stream banks, forcing out native plants and reducing the available nesting sites of birds.

On the other hand, many tourists plan their visits to this part of New Zealand in order to view and photograph them…

Canon R5, EF 24-70 f2.8 lens at 50mm, exposure of 1/160 sec at f11, ISO 100, handheld.

March 29, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL    "Are You Sure?"

Along The Yellowstone River, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming.

Yup, I'm sure--no snacks for you. It is a shame that tourists insist on feeding animals in our Parks, turning them into professional panhandlers.

This coyote had found something to eat on a snowbank, and when finished, looked at me like he wanted more. Sorry, I don't feed wild animals!

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 300mm, exposure of 1/1000 sec at f8, ISO 200, handheld out the window.

March 2, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH    "What A Bison Looks Like At -40ºF"

Along The Madison River, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming.

Once almost hunted to extinction, the American Bison numbers have rebounded to sustainable levels. The Yellowstone herds number over 5 thousand, and during the winter they congregate near the warmer thermally active areas to graze on exposed grasses.

Well protected from extremly cold temperatures, they still look rather frigid at -40ºF!

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 400mm, exposure of 1/800 sec at f7.1, ISO 400, handheld.

January 23, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY    "Moeraki Boulders"

Koekohe Beach, Otago, New Zealand

Scattered along this sandy beach are large round (5-7' in diameter) boulders that are slowly eroding out of the mudstone hillside. They are called septarian concretions, a mixture of mud and clay encased in calcite, formed probably 5 million years ago in the Paleocene Period.

Lately they've become an interesting tourist attraction.

Canon R5, EF24-70 f2.8L II USM lens at 24mm, exposure of 1/500 sec at f16, ISO 320, handheld.

January 1, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY    "Rain Squall Over Fang Peak"

North Fork Pass, Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon

Actually I'm a century too late to name the peak, but Tombstone Peak (lower center) sure looks like it should have been named Fang Peak.

While I was photographing, a weather front passed through the Olgivie Mountains, creating a constantly changing combination of rain, clouds and sunbeams.

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 100mm, exposure of 1/500 sec at f9, ISO 100, handheld.