My Top Images of 2022 with Photo Tips
A sincere thanks to those who have supported my work in 2022, whether by purchasing prints, joining me on a workshop, or sharing your kind words on social media! I’m very grateful for another year of memorable experiences in the outdoors.
Below are a handful of my favourite images from this year. I’ve also included an accompanying tip for any photographers out there who are interested in learning more about my approach.
Great Grey Owl Feeding Nestling
A female Great Grey Owl carefully parcels out tiny pieces of Meadow Vole to one of her week-old nestlings.
Canon R5 | Canon 500mm f/4 IS with Canon 1.4x Teleconverter iii | 1/1250th | f/5.6 | ISO 2000
PHOTO TIP - Decisive Moment
When considering the ingredients of a successful wildlife photograph, we often think fairly broadly about concepts such as light angle, perspective, background, etc. While these are all very important considerations, what’s often left out is the concept of the “decisive moment”. This doesn’t necessarily need to represent a grandiose action, it can be a subtle change — or a combination of many — that adds emotion, creates harmony in the arrangement of elements, gives the image a polished and intentional feel, etc. Sometimes we aren’t able to be fully cognizant of these changes in the field, and it’s just as important to consider this during the process of culling and editing our images as well. The Great Grey Owl image above represents one out of a couple hundred, taken during this feeding sequence. The way the light caught the adult’s eye, and her focused expression jumped out at me. Though tiny, the piece of flesh is an important part of the image, and its bright red colour popped as it overlapped with the shaded area of the adult’s chin. Having a large enough gap between the two bills, while still showing their interaction, was important as well.
Cougar
As dusk sets in over the temperate rainforest in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, a large male Cougar pauses briefly while moving through the lush understory. Photographed using a DSLR camera trap. You can read more about this experience in the blog entry “Stories From Field: Cougar”.
Canon 5D Mark II | Canon 17-40mm f/4 | 1/160th | f/11 | ISO 2000 | 3 Off-camera Flashes
Camtraptions PIR Motion Sensor V3 | Camtraptions Camera Housing | Camtraptions Wireless Triggers
PHOTO TIP - Understanding Flash
It’s not uncommon to hear photographers assert with a tone of condescension that they “only use natural light”. I think this can sometimes come from an ill-informed place of believing flash always looks excessive, obvious, and artificial. In reality, many of the world’s top wildlife images, such as those awarded in Wildlife Photographer of the Year, or those on the pages of National Geographic incorporate flash, but you might not even know it. While this image is clearly taken using flash (three in fact), it’s an example of how mixing ambient light and artificial light can create unique images, and how thoughtful positioning is the key to subtle and effective flash work. Learning about flash is something many photographers put off, or dismiss entirely, but in my opinion, it’s one of the most beneficial things you can do to elevate your work, and open up a whole new world of creative possibilities.
Mountain Bluebird with Dragonfly
A male Mountain Bluebird with a freshly captured darner dragonfly, destined for the mouths of his newly hatched chicks. Recently emerged from a nearby pond, having slowly developed during the aquatic phase of its life, this darner was enduring the vulnerable teneral stage. For the first few days of life post metamorphosis, their wings need time to dry, and their exoskeleton is comparatively soft and dull in colour. Eventually, once their body hardens and muscles have had time to mature, they become increasingly proficient fliers. Until then however, they make a very easy meal for many insectivores; which the bluebirds were well aware of.
Canon R5 | Canon 500mm f/4 IS with Canon 1.4x Teleconverter | 1/1250th | f/9 | ISO 500
PHOTO TIP - Become a Better Naturalist
Becoming a better naturalist translates into better nature photographs. Even if your photographic efforts are more niche-oriented — whether you’re focused mainly on birds, mammals, macro, etc. — broadening your knowledge base will allow you to better predict unique moments. Considering the interconnectedness of habitat and inhabitant, predator and prey, weather and light, and so on, will not only improve your images, but I feel it greatly enriches time spent in the outdoors.
Golden Eagle From Above
A Golden Eagle cruises effortlessly past my perch on an exposed ledge, high atop a cliff face in the Interior of British Columbia.
You can read more about this experience in the blog entry “Stories From Field: Golden Eagle”.
Canon R5 | Canon 500mm f/4 IS with Canon 1.4x Teleconverter iii | 1/3200th | f/5.6 | ISO 1600
PHOTO TIP - Physical Fitness
One of the best things about the pursuit of nature photography is its accessibility to people of varying physical abilities. It’s something you can enjoy and excel at even from your back porch or a local waterfront, without having to trek great distances. In fact, one can find some of the most unique and interesting photo opportunities in urban areas at the interface of wildlife and human worlds. However, something that plays into my own personal photography pursuits in a big way is physical conditioning. When it comes to many of the photos that interest me most, the limiting factor would rarely be the type of equipment used, but rather the ability to access the area with that equipment. If ever that’s been something you wish to improve on, perhaps an extra bit of motivation would be the positive effect it will have on your photography. Regardless of any aspirations you may or may not have of shouldering a big pack and hiking to remote locations, it could help you stay safe in uneven terrain, or prove beneficial to you as you move quickly from spot to spot as the light changes, contorting yourself into all the unusual positions we take on while composing our shots.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Clutching a partially consumed vole, a Northern Saw-whet Owl roosts in a western redcedar in the temperate rainforest of British Columbia's South Coast.
Canon R5 | Canon 500mm f/4 IS | 1/320th | f/4 | ISO 1250
PHOTO TIP - Time in the Field
Here in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, locating these birds is a daunting task; and 90% of the time when I do locate one, they’re roosting in sites that aren’t conducive to the types of photos I’m looking for. Having put in countless days the following winter in pursuit of the right opportunity with these tiny and cryptic owls, ironically, my best opportunity came months later, when I wasn’t even targeting them. In fact, I was photographing Rufous Hummingbirds, when a heavy spring squall forced me to seek cover under some cedars. As I crouched beneath the dense foliage, waiting for the rain to pass, I noticed some whitewash and small pellets on the forest floor: evidence of a Northern Saw-whet Owl roost. I returned to this same spot for several successive days, and eventually came away with my best images of this species. This goes to show that in addition to the benefits of targeting a singular subject, and being intentional with your approach, there’s also a lot to be said for the simple act of spending time in the field. The reality is, with wildlife, luck still goes a long way, and the more time you spend in their environments, the more time you leave for serendipitous encounters to unfold. Sometimes just heading out for a walk can lead to inspiration for a new image.
Violet-green Swallow
A male Violet-green Swallow courses low over a river in British Columbia's Southern Interior, in pursuit of flying insects.
Canon R5 | Canon 500mm f/4 IS with Canon 1.4x Extender iii | 1/5000th | f/5.6 | ISO 1600
PHOTO TIP - Persistence Pays
Typically, in the world of wildlife photography, we encounter fleeting situations that we can either: A) Hope to react to in the moment… or… B) Look to understand the circumstances of, in hopes that the situation may unfold again when we have time to prepare and anticipate. After all, animals of all types can be very habitual, with behaviours that, to a certain extent, can be predicted. However, these patterns are sometimes only repeated every so often, in the order of days, or even weeks — hardly something that will afford us the repeated attempts that are often required to create successful images. Identifying habitual behaviours or patterns of movement can allow us to take advantage of those rare situations where we can experiment with techniques, settings, and angles, in order to really dial in an image. Such was the case here, when photographing Violet-green Swallows in flight at 700mm. Even with the incredibly sophisticated auto-focus systems in today’s mirrorless cameras, achieving a sharp image with an engaging pose, that didn’t require a considerable crop, was quite difficult. Thankfully their flight patterns were somewhat predictable, and I was granted more opportunities than I ever could’ve asked for, and eventually came away with a handful of decent shots. If ever you see that the potential of a situation is there, there’s nothing wrong with trying and trying until something sticks, so long as your presence isn’t negatively impacting your subject. In fact, patience and persistence are very normal parts of wildlife photography – whether amateur or professional – and in some cases, the final image is the result of a few thousand attempts.
Peregrine Falcon
A male Peregrine Falcon perches in the canopy of a Douglas fir next to his eyrie in southwestern British Columbia, Canada.
Canon R5 | Canon 500mm f/4 with Canon 1.4x Teleconverter iii | 1/400th | f/5.6 | ISO 1600
PHOTO TIP - Natural Framings
Rather than leaving the arrangement of the elements that surround your subject up to chance , shooting with intention is all about making conscious decisions and positioning yourself accordingly. While incorporating too much of a subject’s surroundings can make for a busy image, eliminating too much can create a sterile, boring scene just the same. Striking a balance between the two is one of the biggest challenges we face as photographers. Something to look out for in the field to help with this is the potential for natural framings. Inclusion of surrounding habitat can speak to the subject’s environment, add dimension and depth; and doing so with intention communicates to the viewer that you’ve carefully observed the scene and been diligent in composing your image. This oftentimes requires all but the tiniest of adjustments, as the elements of the image are very easily influenced by a long telephoto’s narrow angle of view.
Western Screech-Owl
A female Western Screech-Owl peers out from her nest cavity in an old growth ponderosa pine in BC’s Southern Interior.
Canon R5 | Canon 500mm f/4 with Canon 1.4x Teleconverter iii | 0.8 sec | f/5.6 | ISO 6400
PHOTO TIP - Stick Around
Throwing in the towel too early, or arriving too late are two of the biggest oversights we can make as wildlife photographers. Many animals (particularly owls) don’t adhere to our ideal schedules, especially when it comes to preferred lighting conditions. In my opinion, that only adds to their mystique and creates a welcome challenge. Rather than lamenting the necessary high ISO settings and slow shutter speeds, learning to embrace the gloom of dawn or dusk in all its cool-toned moodiness can greatly enhance your photos. Better to have noisy sharp shots than blurry shots, or no shots at all. And remember, as post processing software continues to improve, those noisy files will only appreciate.
Rufous Hummingbird on Salmonberry
A male Rufous Hummingbird perches atop a blossoming salmonberry shrub in a riparian area in coastal British Columbia.
Canon R5 | 500mm f/4 IS with Canon 1.4x Teleconverter iii | 1/640th | f/5.6 | ISO 800
PHOTO TIP - Ephemeral Opportunities
One of the greatest gifts the pursuit of nature photography has given me, is the anticipation and realization of countless moments throughout the year, as each season progresses. For those of us hoping to capture these moments – particularly in areas with strong seasonality – it’s important to appreciate just how fleeting some of these ephemeral phases can be. A day or two can make all the difference to the movement of migratory birds, or the advancement of new foliage, for example. Taking note of subtle seasonal shifts and local weather can help you better predict the moments you’re most motivated to capture. I make notes on my calendar to remember for the following year, giving me lots to look forward to throughout the seasons.