another spectacular view of Waimea canyon. The lush vegetation and diverse soil colours make for some very nice canyon photos.

late spring in the Aleutian Islands

This cute little fella was raised on a large pond not too far from the studio. Never more than a few inches from Mom, the adorable youngster was swimming about, getting its share of seaweed from just below the surface. They both tend to stay away from the shore (probably for safety) and I haven't managed to coax them much closer. So this shot was captured through an 800mm lens to bring in the detail and expression of the young bird without disturbing the mom.

foliage on the tropical island of HaiNan

This is a highly concentrated salt lake in eastern California that is known for its unique calcareous rock formations (tufas). These structures range from a couple feet to perhaps 15 feet tall and are quite rigid. Most of these structures form on the ground near the shore, but I really enjoyed this grouping when surrounded by water. Plus, the winds coming over a nearby mountain range, produce complex clouds rolling over this area and are usually quite interesting and often stormy in appearance.

growing in Poipu, Kauai

Having such a small body and graciously long wings, the Tiger Longwing doesn't flap quickly like most butterflies. Instead, it creates a very pleasing and gracefully-slow flutter to navigate through the rain-forest foliage in Brazil. It's a very different motion than what I was accustomed to, and I found it absolutely beautiful.

Bamboo gate in Japanese garden