Just a Little Light Fine Photography

This is quite easily one of the most interesting geologic features I’ve ever seen. There is no trail to this place. You must use GPS to find it, and even then, we had some issues finding it. The sand in the pit was incredibly soft and a color that this photo really doesn’t do justice to. The pit itself was massivenearly the size of a football pitch, and we had to rope in from the top because the walls of the pit were so steep. I also got to experience one of the worst ...nights of camping I have ever had. The winds were gale force all night long, with blowing sand that made cooking nearly impossible. The wind collapsed my tent on top of me. And to add to the misery, in the middle of the night, a large rock fell from a ledge above me and hit me on the side of the head while I was sleeping. I spent the rest of the night with my backpack on top of my head, just in case. But.I’d do it all again. Except the rock part. On April 9, 2021, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited southern Utah where this site is located. Her visit will influence the next steps for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, both of which were unlawfully dismantled by the former US President in 2017. If you want to continue to have places like the one in this photo protected, please consider reaching out to your local representative today to let them know. Direct action links available in my bio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . #earthpix #awesomeearth #nakedplanet #photooftheday #instagood #discoverearth #natgeo #natureaddict #awesome_earthpix #fantastic_earth #picoftheday #ig_worldclub #naturelovers #jaw_dropping_shots #canon_photos #lonelyplanet #bbc #YourShotPhotographer #EarthCapture #bbcearth #grandstaircaseescalantenationalmonument #visitutah #lifeelevated #utah #sand #bearsearsnationalmonument #escalanteutah

Although much of my photographic work is now done in more temperate climates, I grew up in the American Southwest. I have a soft spot in my heart for the wilds of Arizona and Utah, and the amazing landscapes those states offer. I spent the last week in southern Utah in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and this week, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland is visiting southern Utah. Her visit will influence the next steps for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalant...e, both of which were unlawfully dismantled by the former US President in 2017. If you want to continue to have places like the one in this photo protected, please consider reaching out to your local representative today to let them know. Direct action links available in my bio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . #earthpix #awesomeearth #nakedplanet #photooftheday #instagood #discoverearth #natgeo #natureaddict #awesome_earthpix #fantastic_earth #picoftheday #ig_worldclub #naturelovers #jaw_dropping_shots #canon_photos #lonelyplanet #bbc #YourShotPhotographer #EarthCapture #bbcearth #monumentsforall #grandstaircaseescalante #bearsearsnationalmonument #slotcanyons #visitutah #lifeelevated See more

Confession time. I’m not a patient man. I have always marveled at the photographers who spend hours in wildlife blinds, waiting for an animal to appear. My photography is almost always more opportunistic and spontaneous. I almost never use a tripod, and I rarely wait around for the light to become just exactly perfect. So, when shots like this one present themselves to me, I feel like I hit the lottery. This was a totally lucky shot, and two minutes earlier or later, th...e light would not have worked its magic the way it did here. Add to that the fact my traveling companions happened to be upriver from me at just the right moment and the right place. So, while patience may be a virtue, I’d rather be lucky than patient. . . . . . . . . . . . . #earthpix #awesomeearth #nakedplanet #photooftheday #instagood #discoverearth #natgeo #natureaddict #awesome_earthpix #fantastic_earth #picoftheday #ig_worldclub #naturelovers #jaw_dropping_shots #canon_photos #lonelyplanet #bbc #YourShotPhotographer #EarthCapture #bbcearth #zionnationalpark #zionnarrows #visitutah #virginriver #lifeelevated See more

Apparently today is National Joe Day. I’m sure the fact that this just arrived is coincidental.

Happy World Bear Day!

Super stoked to report that I was selected in the McNeil River lottery this year, so I will be looking forward to more photo opportunities like this one this summer. The McNeil permit is extremely hard to get with a less than 4 percent chance of being selected in a given five-year period. It is also one of the best places in the world to observe brown bears up close, with the bears sometimes coming as close as 20 feet away. This photo was taken at McNeil in 2019, just a few yards up the path from my tent.

Good news post! Socatching salmon at Brooks Falls is not particularly difficult if you’re a bear. You just need to be patient and timing is, of course, everything. But most of the time, there’s enough salmon to go around. Not so for camping sites at Brooks Camp this summer, though. Due to COVID-19, NPS limited the campground to 25% capacity, meaning only ten sites per night. Most years, Brooks Camp sells out for the season in just minutes. This year, it took less than 30 seconds. But I got one night during what is typically a very good week for salmon runs at the falls. So, barring any unexpected issues, there will be a Bear Week 2021 on my feed!

Reminds me of the run-up to the last electionglad that bears are generally single-issue voters. They are concerned mostly with food. Who can argue with that?

It’s March, which means it’s almost time for the McNeil River lottery results to be posted. Please throw some positive energy towards my permit application so I can go check in on my little friend here. He and I have some catching up to do.

Did you know pregnant polar bears can fast for more than four months waiting for the sea ice to return? In western Hudson Bay, some pregnant bears go without food even longer. With the sea ice arriving later each year as a result of climate change, the bears will have to wait even longer to hunt and eat. Fortunately, the wait for Polar Bear Day is almost over! Learn more about how you can protect polar bears and ensure a future for the species at large. Link in bio above.

There is hope for the future of polar bearsand that hope lies in us. Join me in elevating their story on International #PolarBearDay and calling for global action on their behalf. Learn more about how you can protect polar bear and ensure a future for the species at large. Link in bio above.

To get you ready for International Polar Bear day on February 27, here are a few fun facts. Polar bears are not actually white. Each strand of their fur is transparent with a hollow core which reflects light, making them appear white. Polar bears have black skin, which helps to keep the bear warm by absorbing heat from the sun’s rays. Also, their tongues are dark, often blue, purple, and sometimes black. Learn more about how you can protect polar bear families and ensure a future for the species. Link in bio above.

Tahoe bears like this one are usually sound asleep this time of year, but I got word of a mom and cubs sighting a couple miles away the other day. That’s a function of an available food supply, which usually means that someone didn’t secure their garbage. If you visit the Tahoe Basin, please help keep bears like this wild. They thank you, and so do I.