Wildlife Encounters

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of wildlife from around the United States. From Mountain Goats and Elk to Redwing Blackbirds and Kestrels, I consider myself spoiled and lucky when it comes to photographing wildlife. There are only a handful of times where I’ve gone out searching specifically for animals. Most of the time, I happen upon them while wandering the trails of the national parks and wilderness areas that I love so dearly.

While many of my images may appear to be shot in close proximity to these wild animals, know that I always strive to Leave No Trace; especially while I’m shooting photos of wildlife. The key rule when it comes to wildlife is, if the subject’s behavior changes in response to you, you are too close. I never feed wildlife for any reason and I have been known to chase off begging chipmunks that try to pilfer food from my hiking party. For most of my photos I utilize a 24-120mm lens, but given the chance for wildlife photos specifically, I prefer to use a 150-600mm. For critters that are closer to me and comfortable (aka. not going to hurt me), like Redwing Blackbirds, this results in mind-boggling detail in their features. For larger fauna (like elk and moose), these lenses allow me to stay at a safe distance so I and the animals do not feel threatened. Above all else with my adventures, I remain a steward of nature - any images I capture in the backcountry had steps taken to leave the flora and fauna undisturbed in its natural state.

These images are best viewed on a not-cellphone-screen.