“With gorilla gone, will there be hope for man?”

September 25, 2019 in Featured

It is a simple question posed by teacher to pupil, yet the words resonate with a force that transcend their simplicity. In his book Ishmael, Daniel Quinn explores human origins, human culture, and the consequences or our blind anthropocentricity. More relevant today than when I first read it in 2004, Ishmael’s perspective on the human condition sheds light on how we have arrived at this place and time.

I have been purposefully cryptic about the book’s content because I want… rather, I need you all to read it. While this blog is posted days beyond its inception, you should know that I began outlining my thoughts following the publication of some disturbing news that appeared in my twitter feed. As I sat down to formulate some thoughts focused on Identity, the following New York Times banner appeared on my screen: “2.9 billion birds have disappeared from the United States and Canada.”

The words sent chill down my spine, and I thought to myself… “With gorilla gone, will there be hope for man?” One day later young people around the world walked out of their classes in protest, and Greta Thunberg was preparing to give her impassioned speech to the UN Council on climate change.

The news of disappearing birds is not the metaphorical “canary in the coal mine,” it is a direct indictment of the environmental damage that is linked to human expansion, human population growth, and our addiction to fossil fuels. While governmental officials wait for the “smoking gun” to incite action, or wait for innovation to bring us back from the brink, the damage continues and those with power don’t care.

As a teacher I profess the power of collective action to my pupils, and sincerely hope that today’s children will be the solution. Yet, the biologist and latent researcher in me fears for the devastation that seems to be the prerequisite before the restoration of biodiversity can begin. Now I wonder… With bird gone, will there be hope for man?

Reflecting on 2018

December 23, 2018 in Featured

Today is December 22, 2018*… the day following the Winter Solstice. For many reasons, phenological events associated with the ebb and flow of time hold great meaning for me. The long nights and short days inspire introspection and reflection of the year that was and the one that will soon be. This year was a year defined by political, economic, and environmental chaos that continues to be unsettling. In many ways, the chaos in Washington has sapped a bit of joy from the little things in life. Disrespect for culture, for friends, and for the environment now trumps (pun intended) the common courtesy that once was considered acceptable… if not appropriate. This shortest of days coincides with a governmental shutdown designed to acquiesce to the will of a minority voting block rather than the larger populace of our nation.

I am not sure I know what any of this has to do with photography and the twenty images displayed here, however I think that I can tie it all together. My year in photos was one that included three publications, two workshops, travels to Iceland, Canada, and transcontinental drives across the United States. I visited many new destinations, made images under extreme environmental duress, photographed a few new species, and sadly, became obsessed with the gear I used rather than the images being made. Much like a government which seems to have lost its way, I continued to push the shutter release without giving much thought to the work I was producing. My productivity without focus seems to parallel the workings of a government without a conscious… something a little less than what it could have been.

Postscript - The Images posted are what I consider to be my 20 best from 2018. What follows is a key to what is presented in chronological order. 1. Swan Rousing, Vadnais Heights, MN : 2. Bison Huddle, Yellowstone NP, MT : 3. Tree Bones, Yellowstone NP, MT : 4. Swan Landing, Hudson, WI : 5. Resting on Ice, Hudson, WI : 6. Flocked Tree, Stillwater, MN : 7. Crane Fight, Grantsburg, WI : 8. White Pelican, Stillwater, MN : 9. Chicken Fight, Bluestem Prairie, MN : 10. River Mist, Afton, MN : 11. Tree Bones, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, SD : 12. The Sentient Bear, Kootenay NP , BC Canada : 13. Lake Louise and Misty Clouds, Banff NP, Canada : 14. Rialot Sunset, Olympic NP, WA : 15. Lake Superior Sunrise, Grand Marais, MN : 16. Cow Elk, Elk County, PA : 17. Kirkjufell, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland : 18: Geothermal Pipes, Reykjanesta Peninsula, Iceland : 19, Water and Rocks, Reykjanesta Peninsula : 20. Buck and Goldenrod, Fort Snelling, MN

*Note: While Posted on December 23rd, I began writing the blog on the evening of December 22nd.

Compare and Contrast

June 21, 2018 in June 2018, Other

Today is June 21st and it is the summer solstice. Acknowledgement of the solstice is often relegated to a blip in the news which often leads to weather predictions and good holiday reads. Weather obsession is a Midwest past time, so I won’t bother adding my thoughts about this to the pile of past, present, and future prognostications. In the place of weather talk and discussions about summer books, let’s consider this solstice as an opportunity to consider a clear contrast.

Quite literally, the solstice is an astronomical contrast. During the summer solstice, the noon sun reaches its highest point in the Northern hemisphere and coincides with the longest period of daylight. Conversely, on December 21st, those living north of the equator will experience the fewest daylight hours. These astronomical contrasts translate into things we see everyday. IN the summer, we live in a green world where song birds serenade us from dawn to dusk, ducklings are eye candy, and mosquitos expand exponentially. While the heat and humidity increases, so does the sense of emotional well-being and desire to seize the day. In direct contrast, the winter solstice is a frigid and icy world. Barren leafless trees are the skeletal reminders of the summer that was, and the wildlife that once seemed plentiful, look to be in survival mode. The emotional highs of summer are replaced by winter afflictions such as light deprivation, depression, and flu.

So it is with recognition of the difference between these two discrete events that I wish to take a parallel analysis of the state of affairs in this post Obama / Trump era. As I began processing the day’s blog I thought I might discuss human rights, education, international disputes, or trade, as there are strong contrasts in policy between the two. However, given that this is a nature photography website where ecological stability is a keystone for my photographic goals, I have chosen to contrast Trump era environmental policies to those prevalent during Obama’s eight years in office. What follows is an abridged list of changes that I find to be significant between the priorities of the Republican Party compared to their Democratic predecessors.

Since the inauguration of Donald J. Trump in January 2017, the White House has cut the Nasa climate monitoring program (1), the status of threatened species is under review (2), car emission standards have been weakened (3), F.E.M.A. has eliminated the impacts of climate change from its strategic plan (4), the administration is looking to cut Department of Energy funding for renewable energy (5), the EPA has reduced regulations on toxic air pollutants (6), most members of the National Parks Advisory Board have resigned in protest to administration policies (7), the climate change website has been censored (8), climate change has been dropped from the list of national security threats (9), the status and size of some western national monuments have been reduced (10), protection of sage grouse is threatened by oil exploration (11), NOAA cancels Obama rules that would protect whales and sea turtles from fishing nets (12), the US pulls out of the Paris Climate Agreement (13), and the EPA dismisses science advisors (14).

Much like the sharp differences between the abiotic and biotic characteristics that define the summer and winter solstice, the environmental priorities of the current Republican president exist in direct opposition to those articulated by Barack Obama. On this day, it seems fitting to reflect on the political decisions we have made as a country. Blinded by the bling of celebrity and false promise, our society has chosen to abandon logic, reason, and science. Sadly, I fear that every day the current administration is in power, we will follow the pattern of exploitation that defined the past rather than support a culture of conservation which might ensure the self preservation we all seek.

Reflecting on Earth Day 2017

April 22, 2017 in April 2017, Block

The cliche "Every Day is Earth Day" has never meant more to me than it does today. Like the lives that preceded us and the species that will follow, our anatomy, physiology and behavior was crafted by millions of years of evolution. Selection for survival has reinforced the value of the immediate reward, and emphasized the importance of living in the now at the expense of considering the future. We are a short-sighted species and our desire to live for today has enabled humanity's collective intellect to ignore the importance of climatic stability. While I am not invoking evolution as an excuse for willful ignorance, I do understand how we have arrived at this place.

The pro environmental campaigns of the 1960's and 70's like "Pitch In" and "Give a hoot! Don't pollute," now seem trivial when compared to the issues we currently face. Once the hallmark of Earth Day activities, trash removal and recycling appear to be little more than feel good attempts to ease a guilty conscience. The hard work of climate remediation will require both a personal and collective sacrifice, something that will be a real challenge for species that thrives on short-term gains. The relentless attack on the planet by business and political forces only serve to feed an inherent desire to reap an immediate reward during the one life we live. The narrative that declares that climate science is bunk, is just the right candy for a brain that wishes to have it all at no personal cost. Recognition that we are the problem as well as the solution is the first step. Once we allow ourselves to dignify the truth and recognize that honoring the future has the potential to enhance the present, the evolutionary instinct to survive may lead to the solution we seek and need.

Today is the day we honor the Earth, but today needs to be Every Day if we hope to honor our home in the future.

Trumpeter Swan *(Cygnus buccinator)* - St. Croix River
Nikon D500 + Nikon 300mm f/2.8 AF-SII w/ Nikon TC14EII

Yin and Yang Revisited

January 22, 2017 in January 2017

How is it possible to reconcile the unavoidable dichotomies we encounter every day? Fundamental to the human psyche is a core need to experience and resolve opposing forces. Steeped in ancient Daoist philosophy, the existential battle between dark and light is as old as conscious thought. This idea of a yin and a yang embodies the notion that while polarities exist, each is complementary to the other.

Sandhill Crane *(Grus canadensis)* - Bosque del Apache, New Mexico
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 VR

Thoughts of opposite energies have never been so prevalent in my life and my mind. As we enter a new era with a president who represents everything I oppose, I have begun to search within myself to better understand the paradigm I am now forced to live. In a country where 49% defines the discourse for the majority, I can’t help but question that nature of this “democracy.” Today, male thinking overshadows female, false data supersedes science, and the needs of the many are marginalized to benefit the few.

Seljalandsfoss Detail - Iceland
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR1

Like the body politic that defines the course of the present, the present defines the course of my vision. With the ugliness of the 2016 election season, I sought out beauty to oppose the oppressive nature of the news. While I read and listened to daily reports, I also retreated to the simplicity of my art. My concerns of corruption, abuse and environmental decay have emboldened a desire to get involved physically, emotionally and financially. We, who are concerned about a sustainable future, are now faced with the ultimate yin and yang; do you stay at home and mourn a loss, or do you stand out and speak for those who can not?

Orchid Details - Bachmann Garden Center, MN
Nikon D810 + Tamron 180mm f/3.5 Macro

Buck & Willow - November 5th, 2016 Minnesota
Nikon D810 + Nikon 300mm f/2.8 AFS-II - Shutter 1/30, Aperture f/3.2, ISO 800

Wildlife Landscape #1 - Buck and Willow

November 06, 2016 in November 2016

November 5th, 2016 was the “deer opener” in Minnesota; I’m no hunter, heck, I’m a vegetarian and have been for longer than I can recall. To celebrate the lives of the living, I chose not to wear blaze orange, climb a tree stand or drive back country road,; instead I headed to protected land in search of some regal and aging bucks.

Much like those readying themselves for “the hunt," Tamy and I woke long before sunrise, packed the car and made our way to a favorite spot to see and photograph deer. Far from captive, these herds roam between national and state park lands, and thus have a highly coveted status… protected wildlife. Able to wander for miles along thick river corridors, the herds brave non-human predators, starvation and the occasional drive-by collision. Without the human selected pressure to “bag” the biggest buck with the most points, these deer can grow large and survive up to eight years.

On this atypical November morning, temperatures fell to a balmy 37℉ (3℃) and plateaued at a whopping 75℉ (24℃). following a brief hike, we stumbled upon a pair of bucks staking out breeding territories just as the mist was beginning to rise. Rather than move in for a tight profile, I chose to include the foreground and background elements to suggest something about the time and place. In this wildlife landscape, the buck has curled his upper lip in what is known as a “flehmen response” to female pheromones. The contraction of lip muscles exposes the vomeronasal organs (VMO) near the roof of the mouth to the volatilized chemicals in urine and feces deposited by interested does.

With heavy hunting pressures close to our location, this male and others like him need only worry about the paparazzi during his pursuit of some love. While I’m not one to bash those who enjoy the hunt, I often wonder why the kill is a necessary prerequisite to enjoying a quiet morning in the woods.

Harbor Seal - Elkhorn Slough
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6VR

Favorite Places: Estuaries

August 05, 2016 in August 2016

In 2013 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) identified several key factors that negatively impact estuaries throughout the United States. With a total of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves, the US is well positioned to study how climate change influences places where the ocean meets the land.

Happy - Sad (Harbor Seals) - Elkhorn Slough
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6VR

Flood control, aquatic nurseries and wildlife habitat are just three of the many ways estuaries contribute to coastal ecosystems. Located wherever rivers meet the sea, these habitats are indicators of ecological stress because their structure and productivity can be easily measured. The NOAA report identified a number of key factors that serve as underlying stressors to the stability of estuarine habitats. With 40 percent of all Americans (123 million people) living in counties along the coast, it should be no surprise that human settlement is the key source of ecological instability throughout these wetland communities. Industrial, residential and agricultural development all contribute to increased sedimentation and shoreline erosion. Often flooded by toxins that originate upriver or along the coast, estuaries are subject to spikes in chemical pollutants and human waste. Furthermore, the planet’s historically high warming trend now causes some estuaries to flood while others to suffer a loss of biodiversity due to increasing salinity from draught or the depletion of freshwater reservoirs by human activity.

Passing Ships (Sea Otters) - Elkhorn Slough
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6VR

Nestled between Santa Cruz and Monterey California is one of my favorite locations to photograph coastal wildlife. The Elkhorn Slough is a seven mile long intertidal habitat where the Carneros Creek flows into an “elbow-like” bay that extends inland from the coast. Home to nearly 700 species that includes more than 300 resident and migrating birds, seals, sea-lions and otters, the slough is a remarkable place to view and photograph a wide diversity of unusual animal and plants.

Portrait of a Female Otter - Elkhorn Slough
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6VR

Marbled Godwit - Elkhorn Slough
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6VR

Saltmarsh Cottontail - Elkhorn Slough
Nikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4.0VR

The Elkhorn Slough is a rare gem along the Central California coast. A hot spot of estuarine biodiversity, the stretch of water and land provides amazing photographic opportunities for both the casual and serious wildlife viewer. During low tide, the state beach road north of the slough is a great place to find shorebirds feeding on crustaceans buried deep within intertidal mudflats. Continuing west towards the beach, there is a network of trails that branch throughout a unique salt marsh habitat. For those hoping to see and photograph otters and seals, I recommend a private charter or group tour with Elkhorn Slough Safari. The flat-bottomed boat is a great platform for making images, and if you warn the captain and first mate about your photographic intentions, they will try to put you in the right place to make the images you are seeking. Weekend warriors and adventure seekers may prefer kayaking the slough in place of a leisurely motorboat ride. During our most recent visit, Tamy and I rented kayaks from Kayak Connection in Moss Landing. The four hour rental made for unprecedented opportunities to view and photograph marine wildlife “eye to eye.” While making pictures from a relatively unstable kayak takes practice, the ability to control your destination and time at each location was well worth the effort.

Portrait of a Male Sea Otter - Elkhorn Slough
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6VR

Kayaking the Slough
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6VR

Me...
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 24-120mm f/4VR

Cormorant and Great Blue Heron - Elkhorn Slough
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 24-120mm f/4VR

Marinas, fishing, farms and a power plant fuel the economy of Moss Landing and the region that surrounds the Elkhorn Slough. Like most of the California coast, the Slough is subject to the impacts of human encroachment. Yet, this ecosystem is a model for how citizens, non-profits organizations, government and scientists can work together to meet conservation targets. If you are interested in seeing and photographing the slough, check out the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for information related to their research and public outreach programs.

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