Elk – My Wildlife Wonders No. 5
The sight and sound of a bugling bull elk, especially during the autumn rut, is one of the most celebrated and recognizable wildlife experiences in North America. They symbolize the majesty and rugged beauty of the continent's wild spaces. For many Native American tribes, the elk (Wapiti) is a revered animal, central to ceremonies, spirituality,...
Capturing Conservation: Animal portraits to inspire the next generation
The year my dad made us “Friends of the Zoo” at our local Kansas City Zoo was one of the most memorable of my childhood. I recall frequent visits to see nature programs on the giant IMAX screen. Eleven-year-old me was delighted to meet the Kratt brothers, of “Kratts’ Creatures” fame, against the backdrop of one of their children’s educational...
Animal Portraits from GloWild at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
When the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium announced their GloWild event would return, I jumped at the chance to get tickets for this year's "Around the World" theme. I took it as a fun assignment to shoot animal "portraits" of my favorite illuminated silk lanterns. The lantern sculptures for the event were hand-crafted by 151...
Western Kitsch: The Black Hills, South Dakota
We daydreamed about visiting Badlands area for years. We were drawn by the mystique of its wide open spaces, curious about its strange, striated western landscape. We were eager to discover its legendary herds of bison. In April, we finally set forth on our great Northern road trip with the dog in tow. 50mph winds...
Finding Perspective at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
I booked this cottage in Montrose, Colorado because I needed a place to stay close to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. But also because goats. Quaint farm lodging with goats beats lodging without goats 100 percent of the time. There were at least three different varieties of goats that the homeowners keep as...
How to Spend 2 Days in Cirencester, Gloucestershire (Cotswolds, UK)
After a busy week racing around London and Brighton for work and fun, we knew we would be wiped out and be grateful for a few days respite in a quieter, scenic part of the country. That led us to the Cotswolds, or more specifically, the little town of Cirencester. Cirencester (pronounced “see-rehn-sester”), with its...
How to Spend a Long Weekend in San Diego
I found myself back in San Diego, California for the second spring in a row for a conference. Last year, my sister-in-law and her three kids were living in Coronado while her husband was out to sea. This year, I'm flying solo in San Diego with a day or so to kill on either side...