July is Wild for Wildlife Month! This observance was established in 1984 by the International Fund of Animal Welfare to draw attention to the important job of conserving our natural places and the threats facing wildlife and their habitats.
The ultimate goal of my recent book Wild Lives was much the same – to share photos of incredible creatures from every diverse biome on the planet, as well as many of the positive stories that see many species reconciling their place together with human populations ever on the rise.
Enjoy the photos, celebrate Wild for Wildlife month, and have a spectacular summer!
Q2 2024 photos are here! Spring kicked of with a trip to Kyoto, Japan where I aimed to capture more images of life amidst a Buddhist temple for my upcoming book on world religion and spirituality. Nestled harmoniously within the surrounding flora, this was also an opportunity to photograph landscapes and abstracts.
It was quite a shock to the system, then, to go from the serenity of temples and silent forests to the bustle and buzz of Delhi, India where millions gathered in celebration of Eid al-Fitr. I managed to find myself a perch up above the worshipping crowds and came away with the photographs I was here for.
From there I came home for a bit before visiting California for our Carmel Coast workshop, and then it was off to Iceland. If Delhi was the polar opposite of Japan in terms of activity, it was the weather in Iceland that proved to be the difference here where heavy, cool rains exposed flaws in my usually meticulous packing prep. Still, the landscape was as beautiful as ever. The iconic puffins were sparse in the areas we explored – however many other birds were present, and I’ll take variety every time.
Enjoy the photos, and while you’re here check out my upcoming tours and events. I’m always excited to get to know new travelers!
So much of a successful photographic experience is being able to adapt to the conditions the planet hands to you at any given time. That was certainly the case with my first trip back to Iceland since 2021.
Case in point: we saw two puffins. Apparently, they have moved to a more remote location on the north side of Iceland (and puffins were easily photographing in the Faroes). However, we did see some other lovely birds, including barnacle geese and their goslings, territorial red-throated loons, arctic terns, and ringed plovers. I just love the beautiful reflection shots as the terns skimmed over a highland pond.
Redirecting to the Icelandic Highlands definitely paid photographic dividends. The landscapes are ruggedly beautiful with much to take in on both macro and micro scales. We took in the grand landscapes formed by an eruption in the 15th century as well as the smallest details such as the common butterwort–a carnivorous plant that has adapted to growing in nutrient-poor soil by digesting insects that are attracted to its lovely purple blooms.
Check out my upcoming photo tours and treat yourself to a little bit of adventure, fun and good company!
Happy Independence Day! Have fun, stay safe – and stay hydrated. To celebrate, save 20% off a few prints I’ve selected for the occasion through the end of the month, a couple of which are featured in my latest book, Wild Lives. Just use code JULYPRINTS2024 at checkout! I’ll be sure to sign it for you before it heads out the door.
