Happy Holidays To You!!!

December 20, 2020

I am always dreaming of a White Christmas; I adore the snow and the quiet serenity that it brings. Time seems to stand still; the hustle and bustle slows and there is time for reflection. But beyond the joy that snow brings, I hope for world peace, happiness and good health, and a much brighter future for everyone.

My immediate family will celebrate Christmas together but my sister, brother and their kids will be celebrating without us this year. We are so close to getting our lives back on track, that it just isn’t worth the risk for just one day. We are a family and we love each other whether we are sitting next to each other or miles away. Stay safe and well and enjoy every single minute of life. My mother always reminded me that tomorrow is promised to no one.

I ‘d like to take this time to thank all of you for your continued support of my work, blog and my business. You have been patient, kind and generous with your understanding and support -and for that I thank you.

All the best for this Holiday Season,

Big, hugs,

denise

The above image is a colony of King Penguins and was captured during my 2015 trip to South Georgia Island.

* I won’t be posting again until after the New Year to respect everyone’s family time.

Top 20 for '20

December 17, 2020

Below are my top 20 images from this past year. It was difficult to find 20 images that I felt worthy of my top for the year but considering the year we’ve had…these are my favorites.

Click on the smaller images for a full frame view.

Turning the corner and seeing this Wildebeest herd standing in awe of us was a super big treat for me. It was as if they were thinking the exact same thing we were all thinking-where did you come from? Every safari run is unique, you just never know what images and experiences you will come away with.

Death Valley National Park

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Snow Monkey, Japan

Red-crowned Crane, Japan

Ezo Red Fox

Tanzania, a blend of several images

Lioness, Tanzania

Tanzania

Zion National Park

Bryce Canyon

Tulip

The image above was captured in Zion National Park just as the sun was setting. I almost missed it as my friend and I started to leave thinking the show was over but at the every last second the sky became alive. I felt so small -yet so alive. I fell in love with Zion this year, my memory of that evening will last me forever.

This year I was extremely lucky at the crane sanctuary in Hokkaido, Japan. My hopes of capturing two birds dancing with wings extended finally came to fruition. The falling snow and the kicked up snow was a bonus. Immediately, I knew I had captured an image that would make me smile the size of Texas! Of course I checked the back of my camera right away to make sure it was sharp, it was. The Sony a9 did a great job of capturing a great series with each and every shot tack sharp!

The peacock image above was originally captured a few years ago in NY. I finally got around to processing it in a creative way. The virus allowed me the time to work and rework a few of my neglected images. I loved the way this one came out and it sold the first time I shared it on my blog.

Some Things Are Worth Waiting For...

December 14, 2020

The very first time I visited the Falkland Islands I realized that it was a photographer’s paradise. It is a pristine, natural environment filled with endless photo opportunities and is home to many of my favorite subjects, including penguins and albatross. My first experience was via a ship that also went to South Georgia. We spent time at Sea Lion Island (rightfully named), New Island and Steeple Jason. On one of our shore excursions Paul McKenzie and I headed out to a colony that was a far distance from our ship. We walked and walked — I was in heavy muck boots because I was advised incorrectly. As we were walking back, I had learned that there was transportation available on the island and we could have been taken directly to the colony. Not that the walk wasn’t filled with photo opps of other subjects, but we could have spent more time on our targeted subjects. By the time we had made it back Paul and I decided to offer land-based Falkland Island trips and forgo the ship.

I have always loved the peaceful solitude that the islands allow. I also find that each island has at least one thing in particular that you concentrate your photos on. For instance, I have found the best island to photograph Gentoo Penguins jumping out of the surf. You can capture this behavior on other islands, but this location in particular has clear water at the surf edge which allows you to see the penguins. This gives you an advantage because you can see where they are before they pop out of the surf.

This behavior is so much fun to photograph. You need to be a distance away so that the penguins don’t see you from the water’s edge or they will turn and jump out at a different spot. I also like to get down on my knees so that I am not an imposing figure. I set my camera to rapid fire, and make sure that my shutter speed is over 1/1600sec. As you watch them, you start to anticipate the jumps. It is such a thrill to capture them as they explode from the surf. I could sit there for hours and hours, sometimes I do, because some things are worth waiting for…

Ice Capades

December 11, 2020

Back in 2016, I was heading to Lake Kerkini Greece with a small group to photograph beautiful Dalmatian Pelicans. My co-leader bailed on me a week before the trip. And a big winter storm was threatening to pound the East Coast. My flight was in jeopardy of cancelling. Things were not looking good. It was then that I made the decision to “Get Out of Dodge” before the big storm hit and fly out of JFK a day early. One of the participants who lived on the East Coast decided to join me. Neither one of us wanted to risk a cancelled flight. Things worked out great and we had a very productive workshop.

Then in 2017, I was returning to Greece with another group. I had friends/clients that were visiting the area a week before my arrival and they said that the lake was frozen solid and not too many pelicans were to be found…oh no, my heart sunk. I contacted my local guide, he reassured me that things would work out.

When my group and I arrived at the lake we saw that things were not good. The boat we had planned to use was frozen in the lake. (see photo above). Again, I asked my local guide what we were going to do as we had our first photo session scheduled for the next morning. He said, don’t worry, if I have to dig it out myself I will. Overnight the weather warmed, and the lake was only partially frozen. This meant that the boats were able to take us out and the fishermen were able to get their lines in for fish. The birds would be there as soon as the activity starts on the lake.

All things worked out and from that time on, I try to never worry until it is time to worry. Worry never changes things and things always have a way of working out. Our photography was of course different because of the ice on the lake—they were much, much better as the ice added an additional element. It turned out to be one of my favorite trips.

Sunrise, Sunset

December 7, 2020

The sun rises and sets everyday, but are you there to enjoy it? How many of us truly enjoy a glorious sunrise or sunset on a daily basis. Time restrictions, energy and life get in the way of most sunrises and sunsets but I encourage you now—especially during this time to get up early—if not just for one morning— plan on sipping coffee or tea and wrap yourself in a warm blanket and watch the sun as it lifts itself gracefully above the horizon. It may help to add a spark to your step. If getting up early is not in the cards, then treat yourself to a sunset show.

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