Wildlife and Animal Photos

I was once asked to explain my profound attraction to animals and wildlife as subjects for my digital photography and, to tell the truth, it was a question I didn't find easy to answer. It felt a lot like being asked "Why do you get up in the morning?" Admittedly, when it comes to pictures of nature, there's an enormous breadth of subject matter. So why the overwhelming focus on animals? As it turned out, I was able to define my attraction, but I'm not sure it was much of an explanation.

There is a lively, essential beauty in animals that speaks to me more vividly than beauty in any other garb. Landscapes come in a close second, especially landscapes with moving elements like water and wind. But the living animal -- displaying its curiousity, showing its intention, observing me or ignoring me, and simply going about the business of being itself -- captures my attention more thoroughly than any other sight. I don't just 'brake for wildlife' -- I feel downright compelled to pull over and hike out after any flicker amongst the trees. It doesn't feel like a choice -- shall I continue to my destination, or shall I stop to see this creature? Well, nothing trumps the opportunity to look at a beastie. It just doesn't. There isn't even any debate.



Domestic animals will do fine, too. Wildlife photography is a lot 'sexier' than pet photography, but the animals don't know that. It isn't hard to find aviary birds, cats, dogs, chickens, cattle, horses, or goats being magnificent or mysterious or delicately gorgeous or tenderly curious. They're just right there, right in front of you. How can you not notice, and once you notice, how can you not do something like take a photograph. Or take fifty?

So I do.

These images are my attempt to share with you the world I see and respond to. Please enjoy them. If you'd like to do anything with them besides just admire them here, please contact me. Permission to use photos is easy to get, almost always free, and besides it's really nice to know where my pictures are travelling. (It's sort of like wanting to know where your kids are, even if they're big enough to take care of themselves and you're glad they're out in the world doing what they do.)
LV