Late August Inspiration!
August is a month I always look forward to. The days are long and filled with golden light and the vibrancy of life. Meadows are in bloom, wildlife is restless and active, and summer storms can roll in to paint the skies with drama and intensity. When I head out in the early mornings or linger into the late evenings, I’m rewarded with soft pastel hues and gentle shadows. It can make for difficult shooting during the mid-day hours when the sun is high, bright, and casting harsh shadows but I simply see this as a time for experimentation and focusing on the details.
I’ve been fortunate to explore the month of August in many corners of the globe, each offering its own unique palette. In Washington state, wildflowers transform the alpine meadows into a painter’s canvas. In the Omo River Valley of Ethiopia or the vibrant cultures of Tanzania, festivals and daily life pulse with color and movement. In places like Botswana and South Africa, wildlife thrives around scarce waterholes, providing thrilling opportunities to witness animal interactions. Meanwhile, the Arctic light in Greenland or Svalbard creates otherworldly landscapes that feel both fragile and timeless.
Whether it’s the whales off the coast of Tonga, the bears of Katmai, or the desert tones of Namibia, I try to capture the energy and transitions happening all around. I’m currently down in South America – stay tuned as I hope to be back with something new and unique to share on the blog.
Leave a comment below if you have any secrets, insights or stories about shooting in August with both it’s fantastic qualities as well as it’s challenges!
Great post and writing! I love late August in Denali. Am about to return for my 5th trip in as many years. With the road still closed, the back of the Park is at it once was, with very few people and increasingly comfortable wildlife, surrounded by the incomparable Denali and the great valleys that are turning all shades of yellow, gold and red, almost by the hour.
I always love seeing your photographs and inspirational ideas. Saving money for a trip of a lifetime to Japan and Vietnam, which will probably be my last, as cost of living etc is getting too much now and retirement round the corner. So I will be looking out to see yours when you come back from Japan in the Spring next year and I wish you and all who go a most magical journey and experience.