I’ve written much in the past about the wonder and beauty of going out into nature and creating images.  The combination of walking in nature and then actively engaging with nature while making pictures is pure magic to me.  It is however a meaningless act if all we do with those images is keep them to ourselves.  It is about sharing.

I gave up the business of nature photography when I realized that a few health concerns would not allow me to carry out NP and other related acts in the abundance needed to continue to be a pro.  My first reaction was to discontinue everything that had to do with “the profession” of nature photography.  That included making new pictures even though I could still accomplish that task, be it at a reduced pace.   I closed my website and quit sharing pictures be they new or old.  I then realized that I missed sharing my images much more than I missed the business of NP.

So there are no more magazine and calendar covers.   No fine art prints.  No more workshops or speaking engagements.  Just the same I will continue to share old (and a few new) images for as long as I am able.  I guess maybe this was what it was really about all along.  It is funny but life without glory for me is not a problem at all as long as I can share all of the glory that the natural world has shown me over these many years.  Life is a learning experience and I certainly would not have it any other way.

After download please allow images some time to clear themselves.

Yes I do know it is supposed to be spring.  I love paying visual homage to specific subjects that have meant a lot to me over the years.  The Pike River and its tributaries has indeed been good to me.  Even when sports photography was my main subject I still slipped away to make pictures here.  I especially enjoyed making artistic (hopefully) images that would document the seasons.  Seasons like fall and winter.

Without question my favorite place to be is in the high mountains.  I could not count how many times I have been in Rocky Mt. N.P. in my life.  The next image was made at about 12,000 feet.  The mountains in the back of this picture are over 14,000 feet.  In nature sometimes I feel small in a big world.  That usually means that I am somewhere with a healthy stretch of wilderness.  It is a good feeling.

One state that I have been in several times with little photography to show for it is North Dakota.  People like to make jokes about this state but I love it.  I know…..I have the flaw of loving too many places.  Theodore Roosevelt N.P. is a wonderful place but this state is also rich in wildlife.  I was cruising around in central N.D. one day.  I had already secured a motel room and was just looking for something to photograph before I ate supper.  I ran out of ideas and photographed the sunset on this little lake.  Yes I do know that I could have made a picture like this in most of the world.  I don’t even remember the name of the lake.  When I am “being a nature photographer” I make nature photos.  If they are simple little nondescript images like this one then so be it.   Being a nature photographer is about celebrating the act of making photos of everything that she has to offer.

For several years I worked the shoreline and tidal pools along the shores of lake Michigan for shorebirds.  Specifically I found the area near Racine, WI’s historic lighthouse to be the best.  Some of my most intimate experiences with wild birds occurred here.  On several occasions  Dunlins (below), Ruddy Turnstones or Black-bellied Plovers would actually step on my outstretched leg as they worked the shoreline.  It doesn’t get any better than that.

My favorite state park (for wildlife) in the country is Custer State Park in South Dakota.  If you are heading that way do keep in mind that I tend to like places too much.  Please don’t hold me responsible if you don’t find it as great as I did.  We all see things through diferent eyes. The Lake Michigan shorebirds (above) are fairly easy to photograph once they finally learn to forget about you.  The easiest wildlife in America to photograph has to be the wild burros of Custer.  I first got to meet these guys when I was a child.  Newer generations have not changed.  I attracted these mares and foals by waving a white plastic bag.  The hard part is getting rid of them.  Also I should say that even with the tame but wild burros of Custer I did not feed them.