April 4, 2026

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL    "This Is A Tree?"

A Yareta Tree In The Bolivian Highlands

Adapting by necessity to the very harsh high altitudes (10-17,000 feet) of the Andes Mountains in Bolivia, the Yareta is actually a tree that survives by conserving water and heat with its compactness. They grow as little as 1/2 inch per year--a 20 foot specimen can be 1000 years old, and the oldest is thought to be 3000 years old.

Bolivia is highly mineralized so early miners used the Yareta as fuel for steam engines and almost drove it to extinction.

Canon R5 Mark II, RF24-105mm f4 lens, exposure of 1/200 at f9, ISO 100, handheld

February 28, 2026

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH    "Making Lemonade"

ICE CRYSTAL IN WINDOW, INTERIOR ALASKA

Thermopane windows supposedly are filled with inert gas and no moisture, so I expect there is an air leak in my triple pane kitchen window or it was sealed with a little trapped moisture.

So when the outside temperature ranges from -30º and -40ºF for days on end, these ice crystals form on the inner glass surfaces. When handed lemons, make lemonade (as in photographing them)...

Canon R5 Mark II, EF100mm f2/8 macro lens, exposure of 1/200 at f8, ISO 2000, handheld

January 27, 2026

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY    "One Salmon To Go, Please"

STELLER SEA LION WITH CAUGHT SALMON, VALDEZ, ALASKA

When in Valdez I’m always drawn to the fish hatchery to capture some of the feeding frenzy at high tide. Each summer Steller Sea Lions gather in front of the hatchery to feed on returning Pink Salmon, aka Humpbacks, and are joined by hundreds of Glaucus-winged Gulls that add to the chaos.

Photographing them is a challenge—they catch the fish underwater and only emerge for seconds to reposition the salmon before swallowing them whole. Add in the hovering gulls hoping for scraps and it is difficult to get an unobstructed view.

Canon R5 Mark II, RF100-500 lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/1250 at f8, ISO 320, handheld

December 31, 2025

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY    "Drinking Saltwater?"

A YOUNG GRIZZLY BEAR DRINKING, GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST, BRITISH COLUMBIA

What? A bear drinking saltwater? That was my question upon seeing this bear drinking from an ocean inlet in the Great Bear Rainforest. But I soon learned that freshwater is lighter than seawater so floats on the surface. I didn't test that theory...

Canon R5 Mark II, RF100-500 lens at 106mm, exposure of 1/800 at f8, ISO 3200, handheld