Finally seeing the monarch butterflies in Pacific Grove in their sanctuary
One of the symbols of the town of Pacific Grove, California is the monarch butterfly. I lived here over two years, with never seeing one so I was long wondering, how can it be the symbol but yet I have never seen a single one?? Well, I learned they only go to a very specific area, a sanctuary, and it is not in an area I regularly pass by nor can you see from any main thoroughfare. So I finally took my camera to this monarch butterfly sanctuary, and once again, my expectations were really different than reality! There were no clusters of butterflies, they were not flying right by people’s eyes, there were a scattered few, and they were high up in flowering tree branches. I brought my preferred lens for photographing insects, a Sony 90mm f/2.8 G Macro lens, which was not nearly long enough to get photos of the butterflies without a lot of cropping in to get the photos you see here. Luckily my Sony a7R V camera has the resolution to allow for that. So I recommend if you are going to photograph the butterflies, bring at least a 200mm lens, and be prepared to look up, maybe even high up, to see them! At least now I know what to expect and can be better prepared to photograph them next year.
Read MoreI like to wonder if sea lions are comfortable in their rocky resting spots
Around this time of year the sea lions of Monterey take over a beach, or a rocky shore right along the Monterey Bay Recreational Trail so you can get very close to them. These sea lions were out on some rocks near a hotel just lounging around. It always makes me really wonder how can they be comfortable on rocks, and are they really comfortable? They must be though, as there are other places besides rocks! Nevertheless, I cannot help but wonder, are these sea lions really comfortable?? What do you think?
Read MoreSea Lions and pups entertain in Monterey, California
The sea lions have had their pups, and they are all over a popular section of the recreational trail in Monterey, California. People stop and enjoy their antics. I wonder though, how many who are in that area all the time enjoy this? Sea lions bark constantly, and are stinky. After an hour of photographing them, I was good! They certainly are entertaining though whether they know they are being so or not.
Read MoreUnexpected photoshoot guest — tarantula!
During a rural land real estate shoot in the desert NW of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, I had an unexpected guest show up, a very large tarantula! I was waiting for the sun to go down to get the last shots I make at these shoots, my signature HDR sunset shots, when coming down the road was this arachnid. I ran over to the Jeep to take out my other camera which had a 70-200mm lens on it to make these photos from a safe distance! The tarantula obliged quite well choosing to walk further down the road rather than turn into the desert. I am glad I saw this spider in the open and did not see it crawling on my foot when I was in the desert getting the sunset shot!
Read MoreElk of the Grand Canyon are real characters
When I first arrived at the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona, there was a bit of down time before I could actually go and see the canyon itself. Fortunately for me, a group of elk was foraging right across the street. This was my first time to photograph elk like this. It turns out these animals are real characters sticking out their tongues at me, laughing, and getting themselves covered in snow just to make a photo more interesting! Thank you Grand Canyon elk for being so photogenic and letting me get some great wildlife shots!
Read MoreAt last a mule deer photo opportunity
I am often out in very remote areas from late afternoon until sunset and into twilight times here in New Mexico. I love to photograph wildlife, but despite so much time out in nature, I very rarely have the opportunity to photograph large animals, like the mule deer seen here (learn about mule deer). This is in part because when I am done shooting a piece of rural land real estate, I pack up both cameras into a backpack in the back of my Jeep. So if I do happen to see a deer, or other animal, I have to stop, get out, and then get my camera ready. This always results in the animals taking off never to be seen again.
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