although usually a moisture-loving plant, i found this one in Arizona. i think its roots must have tapped a nice hidden water supply.

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.

the lovely Andrea West orchid (Hawaii rainforest)

JiuZhaiGou Valley, China

coming down off the mountain just in time to witness the sun setting and the nearby cloud-line lighting up in pink.

unique outcropping of weathered sandstone in Colorado

these large birds appear to have infinite patience as they stand motionless for hours waiting for their meal to swim by.

A very excited neighbor boy brought this to me one day and wanted to know if I wanted to shoot it. I went inside and got a good macro lens and started to set up next to a nearby boulder. The young man coaxed the mantis from the carrying stick onto the boulder and I began getting ready. To my surprise, it made a very nice pose, turned its head to face me, and just sat there patiently while I took readings and captured this shot.