After finally witnessing a total solar eclipse and declaring it the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, I started hearing people say things like, “Wait until you see the northern lights.” So when fellow pro photographer Don Smith and I planned an Iceland photo trip to prepare for our upcoming photo workshop, we chose January
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A tricolored heron inches toward the muddy shores that a rival snowy egret has claimed for the afternoon. I lift my lens through my car’s sunroof and take aim. The mid-afternoon sun perfectly silhouettes them in the silvery water. Suddenly, the snowy egret takes off with a flurry of motion toward the tricolored heron. The
Burnt trees line the Bruthen-Buchan Road, south of Buchan, Victoria. Over 30 million acres burned during Australia’s 2019-2020 summer of hell. That’s 12 times the recent Amazon fires and more extensive than ever before in recorded history. The intensity (how much heat was generated) and the severity (the amount of damage to vegetation) were both
“Prairie rats.” “A nuisance to farmers, ranchers, developers.” “Overpopulated.” Does the prairie dog really deserve this reputation? A prairie dog takes a strong stance on its burrow. This prairie dog’s colony was relocated out of the way of development in Fort Collins, Colorado. These fluffy, charismatic animals play a complex and important role in the
Our group had landed a prime campsite just across the Colorado River from Deer Creek Fall, and we weren’t about to let a little rain dampen our spirits. The rain continued as I spread my tarp, assembled my cot and looked skyward for relief. While the sun was still buried in dark clouds, a patch
I studied magazine articles offering technical advice and “Top 10 Tips,” but I also had the benefit of learning in person from experienced local photographers. These guys were serious hobbyists, mostly, and I’ll label them as my “unwitting mentors”—photo mentors due to their zeal for all things photo-related, and unwitting in that I could easily trick them out of useful knowledge by simply hanging around.
What does the future hold for nature photographers—their equipment, techniques, approaches, output, influence and access to nature subjects themselves? Here are perspectives from two Outdoor Photographer contributors, long-time columnist and nature photography icon George D. Lepp, and Aaron Baggenstos, award-winning nature and wildlife photographer and photo tour leader.
It has never been more difficult to make a truly notable landscape photograph. Yes, technology has made mastery of the photographic process more accessible than ever, but it has simultaneously become nearly impossible to create something unique. To stand on the shoulders of those who have come before without recreating the same work is no
At the very moment landscape photographer Marc Koegel steps outside to begin the search for his next photograph, he has already won. For him, success lies not in the trophy of the finished image but rather the process of being out in the world, camera in hand. It’s about the journey as much as the
Glasgow-born, London-based David Yarrow created his first major camera-in-hand success with the now-classic image of the legendary Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico City for The London Times. Assignments to cover the Olympics and other major sporting events soon followed. These early forays into the world of professional photography gave little
The sun rises above Nyungwe as the mist lifts from the forest. This is a single shot from a long time-lapse we created that reveals the flow of the clouds. The close of the 20th century was a dark time for the people of Rwanda. The 1994 genocide during a four-year civil war took the
Home to an awesome array of wildlife both above and below the sea, the Inside Passage stretching from Washington state to Alaska is a prime destination for photographers. Become an Outdoor Photographer Member to access this On Location Article, plus techniques, inspiration and equipment reviews from the pros! By entering your email, you agree to
Like most photographers, I’m looking forward to and planning for fall photography, the cooler weather the season brings, and—most importantly—the colorful displays of nature before winter sets in. Fall colors can be so impressive, it really doesn’t matter where you go; there are many great locations to explore. Every photographer has his or her favorite
At 16 years old, Ashleigh Scully is already an acclaimed wildlife photographer, and she’s just getting started. Become an Outdoor Photographer Member to access this On Location Article, plus techniques, inspiration and equipment reviews from the pros! By entering your email, you agree to our privacy policy and to receive emails from Outdoor Photographer.
Building thunder clouds capture a wild sunset along the banks of the North Platte River near Lewellen, Nebraska. “Day 52: Last night we nearly got flooded out of our camp on a mid-river sandbar, the rising water caused either by upstream rains, hydro-cycling from the nearby Columbus power plant, or both. Today, Pete and I
For photographing wildlife in winter, it’s hard to beat the abundance of opportunity and majestic surroundings in Jackson Hole. Become an Outdoor Photographer Member to access this On Location Article, plus techniques, inspiration and equipment reviews from the pros! By entering your email, you agree to our privacy policy and to receive emails from Outdoor
Giraffes. The first time Lepp took a digital camera on a photographic expedition, he was blown away by the extra reach offered by the APS-C digital sensor, which maximized the capabilities of a long lens. Captured on the Serengeti Plains with a 3-megapixel Canon EOS D30, this image is still viable 18 years later, despite
Paul Nicklen on his career in conservation photography, climate change in the polar regions and his new book, Born To Ice, celebrating those ecosystems and their inhabitants. Become an Outdoor Photographer Member to access this On Location Article, plus techniques, inspiration and equipment reviews from the pros! By entering your email, you agree to our
For the photo adventure of a lifetime, use your skills to help document a scientific expedition. Become an Outdoor Photographer Member to access this On Location Article, plus techniques, inspiration and equipment reviews from the pros! By entering your email, you agree to our privacy policy and to receive emails from Outdoor Photographer.
For the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service, I had a dream assignment photographing the national parks. I traveled to and photographed all 59 (at the time) of the U.S. national parks in one year for National Geographic. While other Nat Geo photographers were spending up to a year on assignment in a single
Aerial view of mountains with a river flowing through the coastal plains of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Mason Cummings. Stomachs churned as our tiny plane jerked up, then left, right and back down. I glanced up and saw Nathaniel vomiting into a Ziploc bag. We passed a mere 100 feet over a