I took up photography as a hobby after retiring a few years ago - someone on a photo trip said its a switch to ‘photography with intent’ as opposed to taking snapshots. I’m in full agreement.
Now I am using a Nikon mirrorless camera set-up, and have two Nikon bodies I take on photo trips - a Z7 II and Z9. I use a few different Nikkor lenses; my go-to everyday lense is the f4 24-120mm zoom and my long lense is the variable aperture 180-600mm zoom. I love both and augment them with a nifty 50 (f1.8), and the f4 14-30mm wide angle zoom.
I’m posting here what I consider my better shots.
I believe I’m improving my art and plan to continue to post my favorite photos.
Africa Photo Safari - Part 2
South Africa
Our safaris in South Africa included Kapama Game Reserve Buffalo Camp and Sabi Sands Savannah Lodge, camps close to Kruger National Park, and Madwike Safari Lodge located a bit further northwest from Johannesburg.
As with Botswana, these locations provided completely different experiences. The proximity to Kruger, with open borders between the game reserves, provided a large number of all Big 5 categories, as well as many new experiences we did not get to have during previous safari drives. And Madikwe is an elephant photographer’s paradise.
I hope you get some sense of awe looking though my photos. It definitely created that sense for my wife and I during these photography opportunities.
Life is good!
Africa Photo Safari - Part 1
Botswana
Our first trip to Africa last year was so incredible, we immediately started planning our return engagement. We decided that more nights at each camp would allow for a better chance to get that perfect photograph, and we were sorely missing many big cat encounters. So we started looking into a return to Botswana, and we also wanted to explore a little bit of South Africa around Kruger. This first installment will include our adventure in Botswana.
Since the art of photography requires continual learning (at least for me), we chose to start this trip with Pangolin Photo Safaris headquartered in Kasane. We spent our first 5 days as part of a workshop with Janine Krayer who has been a Photo Host at Pangolin for more than a decade. It was an amazing start to our safari adventures, not just because Janine is an incredible photographer and teacher, but also because the workshop provided invaluable tools for both camera settings and editing strategies that definitely now show up in my images. Pangolin then set us up with recommended camps in the Kalahari Desert, Dinaka Game Reserve, and in the Okavango Delta, Shinde Game Reserve.
In whole, the 3 locations provided completely different experiences. Kasane is on the Chobe River which draws the animals in the dry season down for wonderful photography experiences from the water. In Dinaka, although we did find large game on our drives, the main draw are the watering holes that again attract the animals during the heat of the day. At Shinde, the Okavango Delta is the backdrop and all I can say was that it was amazing.
Alaska - Holland America Legendary Cruise
Part 2
As previously stated, we boarded the Holland America Westerdam in early June for a 28 day Legendary Cruise from Seattle to Nome and back. The itinerary included 12 port stops as well as scenic cruising in numerous sounds, fjords and national parks. We had fantastic weather with calm seas and blue skies for the vast majority of the voyage. It sounds too good to be true, but the proof is in these photographs.
I’ve included in this 2nd post photos from our stops in Dutch Harbor, Nome, Kodiak, Anchorage and Homer. It also includes images from Glacier Bay, Haines and Juneau where we took a smaller boat back to Kenai Fjord National Park for whale watching.
Alaska - Holland America Legendary Cruise
Part 1
We boarded the Holland America Westerdam in early June for a 28 day Legendary Cruise from Seattle to Nome and back. The itinerary included 12 port stops as well as scenic cruising in numerous sounds, fjords and national parks. We had fantastic weather with calm seas and blue skies for the vast majority of the voyage. It sounds too good to be true, but the proof is in these photographs.
It’s hard to capture the wonder of Alaska, the majestic landscape, and the beauty of the wildlife. I’ve included in this 1st post, photos from our stops in Ketchikan, Sitka, Valdez, and Seward. It also includes images from Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord and Harvard Glacier, and Kenai Fjord National Park.
Lisbon to London
We were fortunate to be able to cruise from Lisbon to London following our earlier trip to the UK. We flew into Lisbon and spent 5 days exploring the city before sailing to Vigo Spain, Belle Ile, Concarneau and Roscoff France. Then a short stop in St. Hilier Jersey within the Channel Islands, and on to St. Malo - where we visited the Abby of Mont St. Michel, and then a 2nd trip to Le Havre France before ending in a fantastic sailing under Tower Bridge in London.
In Lisbon, our plan was to see some of the countryside of Portugal, but there was so much to do and see (and photograph), we never left the city. Everywhere else were single days, but all were great experiences in small towns that we would otherwise not have typically visited.
Like our previous trip, we had a fantastic time both on the Silversea Silver Wind and at each port. I’ve again uploaded some of my favorite images below in the the full gallery from each of these stops.
New York to Southampton
We booked a trip to Southampton England on NCL over 2 years ago. Departing New York City, the trip took 14 days with stops in Halifax Nova Scotia, Dublin and Belfast Ireland, Amsterdam Netherlands, Brugge Belgium and Le Havre France.
We had a fantastic time both on the NCL Getaway and at each port. I’ve uploaded some of my favorite images below in the the full gallery from each of these stops.
.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park was everything we were told; spectacular scenery, grand vistas and wonderful hiking. An outdoor paradise and a photographer’s dream. Okay - maybe a little cliche, but it really was a fantastic trip and Angel’s Landing was one of the most challenging hikes I have ever done.
Staying inside the park was a great experience and allowed us to get a leg up on other hikers coming in from Springdale or other outside lodgings. Cold April mornings with smaller than normal crowds made for great starts to the day and provided a feeling of having the park to ourselves. Not much sunrise or sunset color, but still worth getting up early and staying out to get a bit of a softer light, when I could..
Grand Canyon & Bryce Canyon National Parks
Our plan was always to go to Zion National Park after the April 8th Solar Eclipse. We did make it to Zion and I am excited to share photographs from that trip. But along the way, we stopped for a day in Arizona at the south rim of the Grand Canyon, and we also spent a day exploring Bryce Canyon in Utah during our stay at Zion.
Below and linked are photos from both parks. Its easy to determine which is which - Bryce is full of red rock and hoodoos (and sprinkled white with new snow).
I’m still working on Zion National Park photos, and will post those when I get them properly edited. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy seeing these.
Solar Eclipse
Living in Texas made it relatively easy to find a location to observe totality during the eclipse on May 8, 2024. We chose Waco, which provided over 4 minutes of complete coverage of the sun - it was an amazing spectacle.
The weather cleared in perfect timing for totality. And all 16,000 people that made the trip to Eclipse Over Texas at Baylor University were treated to a wonderous sight of darkening skies, cooling temperatures, and a dusk-like atmosphere from 1:38 to 1:42 on a spring day in Texas.
Waterfront - Iquitos Peru
Iquitos is the gateway to the Amazon rainforest in Peru. It’s a doorway that opens into a grand adventure that may include a trip down the Amazon River, or a stay in a myriad of ecolodges along the waterway or the many tributaries. The waterfront in most places is sought after real estate. But a part of the waterfront in Iquitos is crowded with low income families, lacks basic sanitation service, struggles with consistent electrical supply, and at night tourists are told to stay away.
Nevertheless, the culture is proud of what they do have which can be seen in the beautiful colors of the architecture. The images taken below and in the full gallery were captured in early morning as the residents were starting their day.
Amazon River - Peru
The only way to travel from Lima to Iquitos is by air or water - there are no roads other then a single 2-lane blacktop connecting Iquitos to Nauta. And during the dry season, the only transport is typically by air; the river is too shallow for consistent travel.
Iquitos was our initial boarding point for the M/S River Aria, operated by Aqua Expeditions. We traveled on the Peru portion of the Amazon River for 7 days from Iquitos to Nauta and back. We spent time on skiffs exploring tributaries, photographing beautiful birds, monkeys and sloths. We hiked in the rainforest and were shown anaconda, poisonous frogs and tarantulas by local villagers. We fished for piranha, and were surrounded by gray and pink dolphin.
I couldn’t capture everything, but some fantastic images did come out.
Antarctica
Visiting the Antarctic Continent has been on my bucket list ever since I had the opportunity to visit Alaska, which kicked off my photography ‘with intent’ hobby. I wanted to capture worthy photos of the mountains, glaciers, and icebergs similar to those that are posted online in various forums. And once I added a focus on wildlife to my photography efforts, I knew this was a trip I could not pass up.
Nigel Danson, along with 7 other professional photographers organized a workshop on the Aurora Expedition ship Sylvia Earle - and what a fantastic adventure this turned out to be. I share below and in my Gallery some of the amazing photos I was able to capture with the guidance of these 8 fantastic photographers and the other 83 ‘amateurs’ that went along for the ride.
Thank you Mads Peter Iversen, James Popsys, Dani Connor, Nigel Danson, Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, Rachel Bigsby, Adam Gibbs and Rick Bebbington for recommendations and presentations during this fantastic trip.
South Mountain Park, Phoenix Arizona & Joshua Tree National Park, 29 Palms California
I really love road trips. The primary reason for this one was to move my daughter and her fiance to California for her job - no longer able to work from home in Houston. We took the opportunity to make a few stops along the way to try some some desert photography. The Saguaro Cactus and Phoenix vistas are from Arizona. The others are from Joshua Tree NP in California.
It was fun - but I realize I still have a lot to learn to make me a better photographer.
My Favorite 2023 Photos
I created this website in September of 2023, and have truly enjoyed working on it and sharing my favorite photos. I thought I would end the year by posting my favorite landscape, mammal, and fowl photographs from this year. Some are repeated from earlier posts, but I thought it would be interesting to see how my photography and editing skills may have changed over the past 12 months - for better or worse.
I wish all y’all the best for 2024 : May you have a healthy, happy and prosperous year!
Christmas in Katy
We had a very special visit on Christmas day in Katy. Our man-made lake behind our house is filled with small fish including largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead and catfish. We have a few resident birds on the lake, and these share the territory of all 4 lakes in the subdivision. These resident waterfowl include a small number of cormorants, great blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, black-belied whistling duck, American black duck, and ibis. Every couple years, migrating birds decide to come visit our residents and have a feast - basically decimating the fish population. This year, they came back in on Christmas Day! I’m not sure how they communicate across species, but on Monday, we were visited by more cormorants, egrets and had a big surprise visit from a pod of American white pelicans.
But don’t worry, the fish re-spawn and the lake is naturally restocked. Then we have to wait a few more years . . . . but the birds are amazing.
East Coast Road Trip - Autumn Colors & Coastal Beauty
Living in Texas has many benefits, one of which is year-round warm weather. But, the colors of autumn don’t quite shine as they do in other parts of America. And, the rugged shoreline along the New England coast provides a spectacular photographic opportunity. The photos below were taken all along the east coast in October; from Maine to the Carolinas. What a beautiful time of year for a road trip . . . .
Squamish and Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
The beauty of the Pacific Northwest (and a couple close friends made on our last trip) brought us back to British Columbia. Both Squamish, just north of Vancouver, and Tofino, on Vancouver Island, were amazing places to enjoy the beauty of nature and animals we just don’t see in Texas.
Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada
Knights Inlet Lodge in Glendale Cove provides a fantastic base for grabbing photos of grizzly’s, black bears, eagles, deer and more.
Northwest Passage - Aurora Expeditions
From Western Greenland to the Canadian High Arctic, a fantastic expedition team leading the way to visit cold desert landscapes and arctic flora and fauna. A truly grand life experience.
Botswana to Zimbabwe
If you have a chance, going on a photo-safari in southern Africa will provide a new perspective to our beautiful world. There is nothing like being with large and small animals in thier habitat. What a wonderful experience and probably the top trip I would recommend on anyone’s bucket list.
Slovenia Cityscapes
There is nothing more surprising than flying into a city barely aware of who its people are or what makes its culture work, and finding a beautiful world that welcomes you with open arms, keeps a smile on your face, and feeds you so much great food when you get home, you contemplate a new wardrobe.
Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, meets all these things and more.
Birds Birds Birds
Local parks, area ponds, playgrounds, city streets, your backyard; birds are everywhere.
Pick up a camera, play with settings. It’s amazing what a camera can capture with a little patience, planning, and maybe even a little luck.
Alaska
I decided on this trip that an expedition type adventure was something we needed to consider. We were able to see a lot of Alaska’s beauty in Denali National Park, as well as on the Holland America cruise liner. But, I wanted to get closer, more in touch with the overwhelming natural beauty around us.
This trip was great in every way, but it has led us to smaller boats, fewer people, a more intimate experience with mother nature and I will be forever grateful.
