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How To Photograph Manatees

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Manatee
Photo by Jeff Stamer

Note from Steve: A few weeks ago, I announced that PhotoNaturalist was looking for more writers. Well, today I’m excited to introduce one of our new contributors: Jeff Stamer. Jeff is a great wildlife/landscape photographer from Florida, and his first post is all about photographing manatees in the wild! Enjoy!

It seems that nearly everyone visits Florida at one time or another—at least it sure looks that way when I’m on the interstate near Disney:)

Many of those tourists are photographers, and as a long-time Florida resident I’m often asked about good photo locations. Although Florida is blessed with a wealth of photogenic subjects, the one “bucket list” item I share with all photographers is: “Go Snorkel with the Manatees!” [Read more…] about How To Photograph Manatees

Quick Tip For Spotting Wildlife

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Photo by Steve Berardi
Photo by Steve Berardi
One of the most difficult parts of wildlife photography is spotting your subject. Most wild animals tend to stay away from us humans, so it often requires a lot of patience to actually encounter them.

Well, a few weeks ago I took a survival training course and learned something that might increase your chances of spotting some wildlife:

Many animals are highly active immediately before and after a storm.

Or, more specifically: animals become more active whenever there’s a sudden change in barometric pressure.

So, if you go out hiking right before (or after) a big storm, you’re much more likely to see wildlife. Many animals are moving around at this time so they can find better shelter for the coming storm. Somehow, they can sense that a storm is coming. [Read more…] about Quick Tip For Spotting Wildlife

Remember To Always Put Safety First

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Photo by Jackson Hole Central Reservations (used under the CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license)
Photo by Jackson Hole Central Reservations (used under the CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license)
Today I read a sad story about a man who was attacked and killed by a grizzly bear while trying to photograph it in Denali National Park (Alaska). Apparently, he was photographing it for over eight minutes, and got within 50 yards of the bear. The bear probably then felt threatened, and attacked the man.

Whenever you see wildlife, it’s always exciting. And, especially as photographers, I think we get even more excited than the average person, and totally forget about safety sometimes in the pursuit of a photograph.

But, it’s important to remember that wildlife can become dangerous if they feel threatened. [Read more…] about Remember To Always Put Safety First

Free eBook on Wildflower Photography

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With spring beginning here in the southwestern United States, I thought it was time to update our free ebook on wildflower photography. The original version was released about three years ago, so it was due for an update.

Most of the content is the same, but I’ve learned a lot in the last three years, so I’ve updated just about every page in the book, and replaced a few tips with newer articles.

Anyway, here’s a sneak peak of what you’ll learn in this ebook: [Read more…] about Free eBook on Wildflower Photography

Learn About the Mighty Mississippi River In a New Documentary from Nat Geo WILD

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Photo Credit: © NGC / Whitney Beer-Kerr
This past weekend, I had an opportunity to watch a new mini-series from National Geographic: Wild Mississippi. I grew up just a few hours away from the Mississippi River, so it was nice to learn more about it.

The three part series will premiere on Nat Geo WILD this Sunday, February 12, at 8 PM ET.

Here’s a short summary of what you’ll learn in each episode: [Read more…] about Learn About the Mighty Mississippi River In a New Documentary from Nat Geo WILD

Watch the Premiere of The Last Lions This Friday on Nat Geo WILD

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Photo by Beverly Joubert
Photo by Beverly Joubert
This Friday, the documentary The Last Lions will make its television premiere on Nat Geo WILD (check your local TV listings for the start time). The film documents the life of a lioness named Ma di Tau (“Mother of Lions”) as she protects her cubs from enemies to ensure their survival.

The film was created by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, two very passionate filmmakers/photographers who have dedicated their lives to documenting and protecting the lives of wild lions.

Unfortunately, the population of wild lions is rapidly declining, mostly due to habitat loss, hunting, and disease. In 1950, the African lion population was estimated to be around 400,000. But, today, the population is down to just 20,000. [Read more…] about Watch the Premiere of The Last Lions This Friday on Nat Geo WILD