Last year ended in Indonesia, where we visited Bunaken National Marine Park for some underwater photography. Though I’ve photographed under water several times over the years, it’s definitely not something I do frequently. The last time happened to be in Indonesia as well, at Wakatobi National Park as I was wrapping up Wild Lives.
Fortunately we had some incredible diving guides that made it very easy for me to focus on the task at hand – photographing the beautiful colors, coral formations, and tropical fish! For many of my shots, I was positioned precariously close to the reef, using a metal rod to carefully touch it without disturbing it’s inhabitants. This also kept me anchored so I could use my free hand to shoot – and of course as an added bonus, kept me at a safer distance from the reef’s possibly poisonous denizens.
This past November we had great company and a plethora of opportunities to photograph a vast array of wildlife in the Pantanal. Unfortunately there was so much going on at the time with my travel, the holidays, the universe, and everything that I didn’t get a chance to really sit down and select my favorites to share with you until recently. This was a highly productive trip, with so many animal species concentrated in one location. Of course, that coupled with the incredible landscapes is the whole reason the Pantanal is such an important destination for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts and I’m fortunate to have had so many great trips here over the years.
If you’re looking to Photograph exotic wildlife, remote landscapes and much more check out my slate of 2025 and 2026 workshops and photography retreats!
I managed to get to six of the seven continents (sorry, Antarctica). Highlights: Nazca lines in Peru, big cats in Kenya, cherry blossoms in Kyoto, Eid in Delhi, bears in Alaska, desert elephants in Namibia, rare birds in New Zealand, jaguars in Brazil, coral reefs in Indonesia, and more! Enjoy the gallery – and of course browse the blog for a more in-depth look at the year.
I was deeply honored to be the 2024 recipient of the University of Washington’s Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus award.
The Wild Lives experience continued. The collector’s edition was published, and I gave SRO presentations with author Greg Green at Western Washington University and the University of Washington, as well as keynoting the Mid-Atlantic Photo Visions in Manassas. The book was featured internationally in magazines such as Hoerzu Wissen, Objectif Nature et Animaux, Better Photography, Professional Photographer, and Photographie, and numerous podcasts.
Conservation starts at home. Here in West Seattle, I am a supporter the restoration efforts of Schmitz Park Creek Restore and I donated imagery for the hugely successful conservation fundraisers Remembering Tigers and 100 for the Ocean.
With 2024 in the rear view mirror, I look forward to an eventful 2025, which I am starting with a photo journey to India’s Bandhavgarh National Park and Prayagraj for the world’s largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela. Happy New Year!
Just before heading out on my current trip, I sat down with Matt Jacobs on The Mood Podcast to talk about. . . well, a little bit of everything! Matt, an esteemed photographer himself is also the host of The Mood Podcast, and asked some fantastic questions. We definitely had some laughs, shared some truths and had a great conversation.
Enjoy the podcast – give Matt a follow and share with your friends! Links below.
