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Recent Publication – Bugle Magazine

Image of a Roosevelt Elk eating grass was used for an article on and elk's diet in the Sept-Oct 2015 issue of Bugle Magazine.
Image of a Roosevelt Elk eating grass was used for an article on and elk’s diet in the Sept-Oct 2015 issue of Bugle Magazine.

This image of a female Roosevelt elk eating grass was used in the Sept-Oct issue of Bugle Magazine, published by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. It is a published as an interior image with an article about a typical elk diet. This publication broke my all time record – it was requested a mere 3 days after I made it available on my site.

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Recent Publication – Travel Oregon Top Fall Hikes

This image of Eagle Cap Wilderness in eastern Oregon was published by Travel Oregon in an article about the hiking area.
This image of Eagle Cap Wilderness in eastern Oregon was published by Travel Oregon in an article about the hiking area.

This image of Eagle Cap Wilderness was used in a recent article on Oregon’s top fall hikes by Travel Oregon. You can find the full article by clicking through to their website. I took this photo five years ago on a fall backpacking trip with my brother and father. You can read about the epic trip here and of course see many more photos.

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Recent Publication – Save The Bay 2016 Calendar

Image of a juvenile green heron was used for July in the Save The Bay 2016 calendar.
Image of a juvenile green heron was used for July in the Save The Bay 2016 calendar.

If you are a Save The Bay supporter, be sure to flip to July to check out my image of a juvenile green heron when your 2016 calendar arrives in the mail. Save The Bay is a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit dedicated to the preservation of the SF Bay. If you’re not a supporter, the calendar is yours free with a gift of donation. Its a worthwhile cause – I’m just saying!

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Common Iguana

A common iguana climbs vertically up the smooth trunk of a tree, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
A common iguana climbs vertically up the smooth trunk of a tree, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

On a trip to Mexico at the beginning of the year, I was lucky to find a large, male common iguana and set about photographing it. My favorite portrait position was when it began to climb the trunk of a smooth tree. It walked vertically up the tree with ease, employing the use of its long toes claws.

The common iguana's features are striking, from scaled multicolored skin to small horns and spikes
The common iguana’s features are striking, from scaled multicolored skin to small horns and spikes

I also managed to get some interesting poses from the ground, where it was patrolling its territory. Here you can see the iguana’s large dewlap, a flap of skin hanging from its neck used to regulate body temperature.

A common iguana eats leaves from a plant growing along the ground, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
A common iguana eats leaves from a plant growing along the ground, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

I soon realized that it was on the lookout for its mate, when a female emerged and began eating low growing plants.

A common iguana sits in the sun in short grass, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
A common iguana sits in the sun in short grass, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

As the male had spines of an extraordinary orange color, I wanted to get a ground portrait that showed them off. I used a shallow focus an emphasize the head, while you still see a hint of the orange spines in the background.

The common iguana's feet help it cling to a vertical tree trunk, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
The common iguana’s feet help it cling to a vertical tree trunk, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Probably the most notable feature however was the large feet of the iguana. It was fascinating to watch it grip smooth surfaces and navigate them so easily.

Using a long lens, I made sure to keep my distance, both so as not to disturb the lizard, and so that I felt safe! The last thing I wanted was to have to treat a nasty lizard bite. As usual, please click the images for larger, more detailed versions.