This photo of the Wrigley Buildings at night already carried a bit of weight, but looked even better converted to black-and-white.
November 2, 2017. Samsung Galaxy S8+ cell phone, focal length 4.25mm (35mm equivalent: 26mm), f/1.7, 1/40, ISO 160.
A remarkable number of animals have stuck their tongues out at me while I was taking their pictures. And since they were making eye contact, I must believe it was meant as a statement and meant for me. I’m still going to take the picture.
October 9, 2011. Nikon D90 (DX sensor), 70–300mm Nikon zoom lens at 300mm (35mm equivalent: 450mm), f/16, 1/250, ISO 800.
A few days ago we saw a dragonfly that seemed to be on the verge of ecstasy as it hovered defending its turf from interlopers, but this one taking a break on a log near a pond seems to be well into the grumpy side of life.
October 6, 2019. Nikon D7100 (DX sensor), Tamron 100–400mm lens at 400mm (35mm equivalent: 600mm), f/6.7, 1/125, ISO 800.
A Cooper’s hawk rides the thermals over a pond as it searches for lunch one afternoon.
September 20, 2020. Nikon D7100 (DX sensor), Tamron 100–400mm lens at 380mm (35mm equivalent: 570mm), f/6.3, 1/1,500, ISO 200.
This hornet’s head is buried pretty deeply in that thistle, and that pollen sac is bulging ready to burst.
July 28, 2012. Nikon D90 (DX sensor), 105mm Nikon macro lens (35mm equivalent: 155mm), f/9.5, 1/750, ISO 400.
I’ve published a couple of photos of dragonflies frozen in motion, and I’ve got a couple of others in mind, but I particularly like this one because it shows just how hard those wings are working. Also, that thing is smiling, and it has cute eyelashes, even if they’re just above its mouth. But mostly, the dragonfly itself is just so sharp and still while those wings are buzzing away. I did OK on this one.
July 3, 2017. Nikon D7100 (DX sensor), 70–300mm Nikon zoom lens at 300mm (35mm equivalent: 450mm), f/5.6, 1/750, ISO 800.
The last time we saw a female wood duck, she was challenging a turtle who was looking for a sunny log to relax on. Clearly she won, and here she gets to enjoy her space, keeping an eye on the brood nearby.
June 12, 2022. Nikon D850 (FX sensor), Tamron 100–400mm at 300mm, f/6, 1/350, ISO 64.
Prints in newly fallen snow, a reminder that the nature preserve isn’t just a Summer haven.
December 22, 2010. Nikon D90 (DX sensor), DX 18–105mm lens at 105mm (35mm equivalent: 155mm), f/20, 1/250, ISO 500.
As Spring reopens the world, a bluebell brightly advertises its wares to pollinating passers-by.
May 10, 2014. Nikon D7100 (DX sensor), 105mm Nikon macro lens (35mm equivalent: 155mm), f/16, 1/500, ISO 400.
Back in my very, very failed songwriting days, one of my less awful attempts was about the pleasures of long, long legs. I never thought it would apply to a heron, and I think “pleasures” is stretching it one way or another, but they’re pretty long, and it’s one of the best full-body photos I’ve taken of a heron.
July 12, 2025. Nikon D850 (FX sensor), Tamron 100–400mm at 400mm, f/6.3, 1/800, ISO 180.
Did you know that terns can screech to a halt in mid-air? Neither did I. This one showed up in a photo published here some time ago carrying off the koi that it had just spotted in this picture. I really love that form as it sets up its dive.
April 22, 2018. Nikon D7100 (DX sensor), 70–300mm Nikon zoom lens at 300mm (35mm equivalent: 450mm), f/5.6, 1/3,200, ISO 100.
Zoom in a bit on the bottom of those antlers and you’ll see it more clearly… there’s a lot going on there that maybe shouldn’t be going on there. Maybe it makes no difference — y’got me. It’s a pretty decent photo of a buck, but I hope it wasn’t about to star in “The Walking Dead, Deer Edition” or anything like that.
January 8, 2023. Nikon D850 (FX sensor), Tamron 100–400mm at 400mm, f/8, 1/90, ISO 560.
As long as neon is on my mind: Wandering the streets of Paris one Winter night with a friend, I was quite taken with the sight of a few takeout restaurants almost indistinguishable from a strip that could be in any city. Paris is magical to me and I hope to return — truth be told, I’d love to find a way to move there — and this little frame is a good reminder that it’s a city where a lot of people live and occasionally just need some quick takeout for dinner.
January 2, 2010. Canon PowerShot SD850 IS, focal length 18.6mm (35mm equivalent: 105mm), f/5, 1/8, ISO 200.
Today we’re back to the neon sign museum hidden behind locked doors that I got access to as part of a promotional event by Nikon. I took a couple of photos of this Piggly Wiggly sign from far enough away that you could see the sign reasonably normally, but once I realized there was a reflective surface behind it, I liked the idea of getting both the sign and its reflection at a sharp angle. It worked nicely, I think, and I like the glow from the blue tube above the sign as well.
May 22, 2025. Nikon Z5 II (FX sensor), Nikon Z 24–50mm f/4-6.3 at 50mm, f/11, 1/100, ISO 640.
I published a cropped version of this photo a couple of months ago that zoomed in on the expressions of the turtle and the momma mallard, as they silently negotiated their interest in sharing a fallen branch in a pond on a sunny day. Here’s the full story; mom was very intent on making sure her brood had all the space it needed to enjoy the afternoon. Her “go no further” expression worked.
June 15, 2024. Nikon D850 (FX sensor), Tamron 100–400mm at 400mm, f/6.3, 1/350, ISO 100.