I had a client with me this morning. We met up at 5:45 AM… not bad, considering I meet folks as early as 3:45 around the summer solstice. Another good thing about this time of year! We headed to the coast to start our morning, expecting a bit of drama, and we were not disappointed. Low, dark clouds. Momentary blasts of sunlight. Rain. Exactly how fall on the coast of Maine should be.

The sun tested our patience, but we were rewarded with momentary glows and even a bit of direct light, and we took advantage of every second of it. As diffused as it was, the warm morning light against the pink granite of Acadia’s eastern shore provided a nice contrast to the cooler tones in the sky and water.

After using up what looked like all the sun at the coast, we headed to Jesup Path, a classic fall photography location, to take in some color. The sun even came back for a few minutes! It was still early enough that not many people were around, so we were able to get clean photos looking down the path… Though, several passersby did ask if we’d take a picture of them with their phones. We were happy to oblige.

The skies started looking good again, so we packed up and headed back to the coast, only to arrive in the rain. We took “shelter” under the branch of a large evergreen and spent a few minutes photographing the colorful cobbles on the beach. I looked for scenes that included fallen leaves to express the season.

Okay, that’s it for now. Time for a double shot of espresso!

I still have one open spot on my Icons of Acadia workshop:

November 5-8, 2026

This is my most economical trip of the year and takes place during a very inexpensive time to visit the area with hotel prices way down.

Acadia boasts some of the most well-known scenes in New England… in all of the National Park system for that matter! But to get some of these classic shots under the best light of the year (and without people in the way) you have to visit outside of peak season. During this workshop, we will concentrate on classic locations such as Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Monument Cove, Hunters Beach, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Boulder Beach, and more… and we will likely have them all to ourselves.

Learn More

Île aux Perroquets is a tiny island at the western end of the Mingan Archipelago. You can walk from one end to the other in just a few minutes, but its spectacular beauty and photographic opportunities seem endless. Atop the island sits the historic Île aux Perroquets Lighthouse, along with the former keeper’s and assistant keeper’s houses. Both houses have been converted into a cozy island inn, providing comfortable accommodations and meeting space for our group.

The small island staff will prepare delicious meals using local ingredients, giving us plenty of opportunities to relax, share stories, and enjoy the unique experience of island life together.

If you’ve joined me for one of my Maine puffin workshops, you’ll discover that this is a very different experience. Although there are no viewing blinds, we can still get remarkably close to the birds.

One of my favorite aspects of this workshop is the opportunity to practice bird-in-flight photography. It’s a fun and rewarding challenge for photographers of all skill levels. We’re often positioned at eye level with the puffins and very close as they fly toward the island, creating exceptional opportunities to capture dynamic flight images.

And then there’s the light. Early morning and late afternoon can bring beautiful golden light, adding warmth and dimension to our puffin photos as they fly, land, interact, and go about their daily lives.

This is more than a puffin photography trip, it’s an educational workshop designed to help you become a better photographer. Throughout the experience, I’ll provide hands-on, in-the-field instruction to help you improve your technique, composition, camera settings, and approach to bird photography. We’ll also spend time on post-processing, helping you get the most from the images you capture.

Whether you’re looking to improve your bird-in-flight skills, refine your wildlife photography, or simply experience a rarely visited and beautiful corner of the world, this workshop offers a truly special opportunity.

Please note: This workshop is open exclusively to residents of the United States.

Learn More & Register

More Learning Opportunities:

November 5-8, 2026

My Icons of Acadia workshop sold out… but now, after a cancelation, a spot has opened up! This is my most economical trip of the year and takes place during a very inexpensive time to visit the area with hotel prices way down.

Acadia boasts some of the most well-known scenes in New England… in all of the National Park system for that matter! But to get some of these classic shots under the best light of the year (and without people in the way) you have to visit outside of peak season. During this workshop, we will concentrate on classic locations such as Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Monument Cove, Hunters Beach, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Boulder Beach, and more… and we will likely have them all to ourselves.

Learn More and Register

The highlight of this workshop is photographing the world-famous synchronous firefly display, a rare natural wonder that happens only once a year and only for about two weeks. After nightfall, beneath a dense canopy of old-growth trees, thousands of fireflies flash in unison, filling the forest. Believe me, it is unlike anything you’ve ever seen… and that is just the beginning! Many species of firefly are active throughout the park at different times and in different places, and we’ll be searching for them all!

Since peak firefly activity can be unpredictable, we set our dates based on seven years of firsthand experience viewing and photographing them. If nature’s timing shifts, we’ll adapt by focusing on traditional landscape photography or chasing other firefly species that emerge at different times. While we’ve never had to fully pivot, the possibility is there. It’s the fleeting nature of this event that makes it so special!

We’ll balance fieldwork with classroom sessions on post-processing, where you’ll learn how to bring your raw images to life and create compelling, print-worthy photographs that capture the magic of the fireflies.

In addition to photographing fireflies each night, we will also explore some the park’s most iconic landscapes… from tranquil rivers, to grand mountain vistas, and the wildlife-rich meadows of Cades Cove.

Whether you want to tap into your childhood wonder, engage your imagination, or just experience an incredible light show… you can do so next June with me in the Great Smoky Mountains!

The full itinerary and registration details are available at the link below.

Learn More & Register

Want to see more firefly photos? Check out my Smokies gallery at the link below:

Smokies Gallery

More Learning Opportunities:

November 5-8, 2026

Join me, and capture Acadia National Park’s most iconic scenes! Acadia boasts some of the most well-known scenes in New England… in all of the National Park system for that matter! But to get some of these classic shots under the best light of the year (and without people in the way) you have to visit outside of peak season. During this workshop, we will concentrate on classic locations such as Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Monument Cove, Hunters Beach, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Boulder Beach, and more… and we will likely have them all to ourselves.

Learn More

February 4-7, 2027

Join Benjamin Williamson and me for what is quickly becoming our most popular workshop of the year! This is an intensive workshop designed to help you improve your photography while working in cold conditions. In addition to copious amounts of field instruction, we provide classroom time to cover special techniques to help your images utilize the latest advances in digital darkroom technology. We also have image review sessions with kind and constructive feedback.

Learn More

Wild encounters, unforgettable photographs, and a chance to feel closer to nature than you ever thought possible!

Explore and photograph a wide variety of bird species alongside some of the world's most respected bird photographers. Merritt Island and its vast array of birds provides an ideal environment for improving your skills. Immerse yourself in photography as you learn from an outstanding team of instructors and elevate your portfolio all the while enjoying a truly memorable experience. Receive $500 off your deposit when you register and use code PUTNAMMI500. Don't wait to register! The discount codes expire July 28th, 2026.

Escape to Florida’s Space Coast for a hands-on, bird photography conference, learning and photographing alongside the pros.

March is the ideal time to photograph along the Space Coast with the opportunity to photograph resident Florida birds along with those migrating north along the East Coast’s most active flyway. From apex predators, to wading birds, to migrating warblers and heron rookeries, you will have the opportunity to photograph a wide variety of birds among the diverse habitats of the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas.

Learn and photograph alongside the world’s best bird photographers

The instructor team is the heart of this event and there is an incredible group this year. You’ll learn from Florida’s top birding experts and some of the most talented wildlife photographers. Each instructor offers a unique photographic style, and during field sessions you’ll get to try out a variety of approaches to find what inspires you most. With carefully paired guides and a passion for birds shared by all, this is more than a workshop – it’s a true creative journey. Instructors include: David Akoubian, Alyce Bender, Steve Gettle, Michael Frye, Lisa Langell, Ray Hennessy, Karen Waller, Jennifer King, Ron Bielefield, Jackie Schletter, Isaac Grant, Chris Beasley, Harry Collins, Matt Shannon, and Emilie Talpin!

Conference Highlights

For over 60 years, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has been a sanctuary for diverse wildlife, including 358 bird species. From March 15-19, 2027, it will be the home of the Out of Merritt Island Bird Photography Conference, a premier event for bird photographers.

This conference is designed to help you improve your bird photography skills at every level. Learn directly from world-class photographers as you refine your techniques, expand your knowledge, and capture stunning images in one of the most diverse birding environments in the country.

Each day begins and ends in the field with instructors, giving you plenty of hands-on experience and personal coaching. Midday sessions include group classes, image reviews, and time to rest, connect, and recharge. An orientation and online sessions before the event and an online review afterward ensure your growth continues beyond the conference.

Cocoa Beach will be our home base to explore all of the best bird photography locations in the area, including Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Orlando Wetlands, Sebastian Inlet, and more.

Experience guided field excursions across Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the surrounding area, photographing a wide array of birds including Roseate Spoonbill, Tri-colored Heron, Glossy Ibis, Anhinga, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Osprey, Snail Kite, Wood Stork, Reddish Egret, Scrub Jay, Magnificent Frigatebird, Black Skimmer, Black-necked Stilt, Crested Caracara, and so many more.

You will learn

• Camera settings for bird photography

• Using specialized bird photography equipment

• Advanced focusing techniques

• Capturing sharp images of bird in flight

• Understand the behavior of Florida bird species to help you get the shot

• Learn the etiquette and ethics of thoughtful bird photography

• Creative techniques to set your images apart including high-key, silhouettes, panning, closeups, black and white images. and more.

• Develop your personal style of photography

• Photograph birds in their landscape environment with help from our instructors that in addition to wildlife are renowned landscape photographers

• Photographing birds in low light

• Photographing birds with emotion and telling stories with your bird photographs

• Capture stunning video of birds and wildlife

• Organizing, culling, and editing your bird photographs

• Creating strong bird portfolios

• Basic to advanced post-processing techniques for stunning bird images

• Calibrating and printing techniques for professional prints

Learn More & Register!

Use code PUTNAMMI500 for $500 off!

More upcoming learning opportunities:

Join me in Acadia, November 5-8, during my favorite time of year to photograph the National Park! Acadia boasts some of the most well-known scenes in New England… in all of the National Park system for that matter! But to get some of these classic shots without people in the way you have to visit outside of peak season. During November, Acadia’s notorious crowds have dissipated but the park is still fully accessible… and we take advantage of it all with field excursions to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Monument Cove, Hunters Beach, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Boulder Beach, and more.

Learn More

Other than having the park largely to ourselves, another benefit of this time of year is the sun’s position along the horizon at both sunrise and sunset. In summer, the setting sun is not visible from Bass Harbor Head Light, and in October the area is a zoo. By November, the crowds have gone and the sun sets out over the open horizon, casting light across the lighthouse and rocky coast. And on the other side of the island at first light, the sun rises south of Great Head, allowing it to illuminate stretches of coastline that remain in shadow during the warmer months.

Besides chasing perfect light in epic locations, we embrace the time of year and do what the weather demands, photographing the park in all conditions and from more intimate perspectives.

November is the perfect time of year to photograph along the coast and a beautiful time for the rest of the park, and at $1595 this is our most budget friendly workshop! Hotel rooms even run at a hugely discounted rate this time of year! As an added bonus, everyone leaves this workshop with a 12x18 print of one of their photos.

To learn more about this workshop and for registration, click below:

Learn More

More upcoming workshop opportunities:

Self-Expression through Nature Photography

October 3, 2025

With The Wendell Gilley Museum

This full-day workshop is all about being creative and making meaningful images. In the field, we’ll embrace whatever weather and conditions come our way, learning how to pivot and adapt our photographic approach accordingly. In the classroom, we’ll dive into what it takes to express ourselves through our photos, going beyond technique to find personal connection and creative intention. No rules on this workshop!

Learn More

My distance from the park for most of the year, the time spent away from my family while I’m there, and the anticipation of being reunited with both have all helped to shape a deeply personal body of work. The landscape itself is extraordinary, but it is the emotions tied to my time there that continue to guide my photography. They compel me to push a little farther up a creek in search of a view I’ve never seen before, or wait a little longer in the hope that a bird or bear will fall into the perfect pose, giving me the opportunity to create an image that feels personal, meaningful, and unique.

The Smokies have become my national park home away from home. In many ways, my catalog of images from the Smokies feels more complete, more exact, and more refined than what I currently show from Acadia, my home park. Nothing against Acadia. Rather, it’s a testament to the creative growth the Great Smoky Mountains have inspired over the years, and I think that shows in the images I’ve compiled. It’s a landscape that continues to challenge me, reward me, and draw me back time and again.

Like any collection of photos I share on social media, not all of these new images will find their way into my website gallery. Still, I enjoy sharing with others the views and encounters that felt so special in the moment, even if they don't quite fit into a carefully curated portfolio. Besides, these photographs only tell part of the story. The real reason I make my annual pilgrimage to the Smokies is to pursue a very different subject and a very different kind of photograph. And with that, I’ll leave you with a small preview of what’s to come…

A couple of weeks ago, my family and I packed up the car and headed to our favorite place in Maine to visit, Lubec. Big words considering we live on Mount Desert Island, but that’s home, Lubec is just far enough away to make it feel like a vacation and worth a motel room for a couple nights. So we did the drive and crammed ourselves into one of the dog-friendly rooms at Eastland Motel, just outside of town. Thankfully, we like each other a lot, and squeezing into hotel rooms has never been a big deal for us, especially in a place where most of the day can be spent outside hiking and playing. The beautiful April weekend we chose certainly helped.

I’ve been to this area dozens upon dozens of times and, on this visit, wanted to photograph something new. So aside from the image above of the boat and abandoned smokehouse (a well-known roadside view that I hadn’t stopped at in years), all of my outings took me to new locations where I set up my camera in places I’d never stood before, including the below view at Hamilton Cove, a preserve managed by Maine Coast Heritage Trust that, for some reason, I had never checked out before. I’d had it on my list for awhile, so on our first morning I headed out early to explore and was ecstatic to find this view. The preserve also has an easily accessible beach that I brought my family to later that day.

Some trips are family-first trips. I bring a camera with little intention of using it and stick to that pretty closely. Other trips are photography trips, done solo or with other photographers. But every now and then I’m able to blend the two, spending the daytime hours at playgrounds and hiking trails, then setting my alarm for early sunrises and sneaking out after dinner for sunset. Spring and early summer in this part of the world are great for that. The sun sets late and comes up unfathomably early, meaning I usually make it back in the morning before anyone else is even out of bed and only miss the tucking-in part of the evenings.

I also find having my family along to be motivational. I feel a responsibility to them as a provider and photography is how I provide, so as much as I want to physically be there for them, the motivation to go out and chase photographs is also strong. Sometimes the two go hand in hand. While on a family hike at Quoddy Head State Park, I spotted a couple of scenes I had never noticed before and thought they would photograph well, so I returned that evening to one of them, where I was treated to a magnificent sunset (above two images), and then to the other the following morning for sunrise and captured the three photos below.

I’ve been photographing this part of Maine for a long time, so I was very happy to find new and inspiring locations to photograph. I’m looking forward to being back here for my annual Machias Seal Island puffin workshop and showing some of these spots to our attendees.

Before heading home, we hiked down to a beach we had never explored before, tucked within one of the Cobscook Shores parklands. We were stunned by the beauty of the place… and a little in awe of the perfect April weather that seemed almost too good to be true. The dog ran endlessly along the shoreline while the kids skipped stones into the water, all of us fully existing in the moment.

Of the three kinds of trips I tend to take (family trips, solo trips, and the ones that successfully blend both), these visits to Lubec feel the most rewarding. I don’t miss out on the experiences with my family, and I still get to spend time immersed in this wonderful craft of photography.

The morning began with a 2:30 wake-up call. Not from my alarm, but from my three-year-old crying for me to come get her. After tucking her back into bed and tiptoeing out of the room, I put coffee on and started my day. I was happy to be up, knowing what the morning cloud forecast had in store for me.

I hadn’t decided where I was going to go, and ended up making a game-time decision and heading to a location I typically photograph in late fall, both because of the angle of the rising sun and because it’s much easier to access in November if you want to avoid poison ivy… not so much this time of year.

What I found interesting about the spot in spring was that the order in which I photographed its features was the complete opposite of how I normally work there in November. With the above scene, I was looking directly into the rising sun this morning. In November, I would save that view until after the sun is up so I could take advantage of side light. The image below, lit from the side this morning, became my second set up. In November it faces sunrise, so I would photograph it first, before the sun rises into the sky.

After sunrise, I felt like extending the morning. The now overcast sky and fresh spring greens inspired me to visit Sieur de Monts, Great Meadow, and the Jesup Path boardwalk, where I photographed this white-tailed deer leaping over the walkway.

A little tip: if you find yourself on this boardwalk and see a deer headed toward the path, you’ll likely get the same opportunity you see here. The deer cross back and forth over the boardwalk all day, every day. And they always jump. How patient are you?

After photographing the deer jumping the path, I continued down the boardwalk and snapped the above image of the same deer as I passed by. I kept wandering in search of more signs of spring, photographing plenty of unfurling ferns along the way.

I also had a bit of fun photographing the abundance of common yellowthroats that were around. Such a cute and entertaining bird to photograph. Can you find the female playing Where’s Waldo in the second image? Of course you can.

I wrapped up the morning at an apple tree, taking pictures of the thick white blossoms covering the branches.

Okay, that’s it for now. Time for another shot of espresso!

Upcoming workshop opportunities:

June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

Learn More & Register

June 16-20, 2026

Join Acadia’s night-sky master, Nathaniel Child, on an out-of-this-world photography workshop featuring the epic landscapes and incredibly dark skies of Acadia National Park. We will be spending four nights under the stars at some of Acadia’s most iconic locations, where you’ll be photographing the Milky Way, creating star trails, and learning how to capture pinpoint-sharp stars. You’ll also learn how to blend in foregrounds to your night sky images and stack multiple files together to reduce noise. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to take your nightscapes to the next level!

Learn More & Register

July 20-24, 2026

One spot just opened up!

Take part in an unforgettable island experience in Quebec, Canada! During this all-inclusive photography workshop, we will spend four comfortable nights on an isolated island eating wonderful food, enjoying each other’s company, and photographing Atlantic puffins and other sea birds to our heart’s content. Not only will we have the island almost all to ourselves, we will also be able to move around the island freely for close-up views of puffins all day long and in all types of light! No blinds and no time limits!

Learn More & Register

Puffins of Île aux Perroquets

July 20-24, 2026

Take part in an unforgettable island experience in Quebec, Canada! During this all-inclusive photography workshop, we will spend four comfortable nights on an isolated island eating wonderful food, enjoying each other’s company, and photographing Atlantic puffins and other sea birds to our heart’s content. Not only will we have the island almost all to ourselves, we will also be able to move around the island freely for close-up views of puffins all day long and in all types of light! No blinds and no time limits! This is an educational workshop meant not only to expose you to a rarely visited corner of the world but also to help you improve your skills as a photographer with in-the-field guidance and post-processing instruction. This class is only open to residents of the U.S.

Learn More & Register

After dropping my daughter off at daycare this morning, I headed to the Giant Slide trailhead for a morning hike. That’s pretty typical for me, though usually I have my dog with me instead of my camera. But after a fairly strenuous hike up the Perpendicular Trail on Tuesday, I decided to leave the old man at home and let his hips rest. The Giant Slide Trail is a fun but challenging hike, full of water crossings and plenty of climbing over (and under) boulders, and it would have been a lot of work for the pooch.

With a late morning start and after checking the cloud forecast, I knew the light wasn’t going to favor wide scenes. So I only carried my 70–200mm lens, planning to focus on smaller scenes while also keeping my pack lighter, which ultimately helped me enjoy the hike even more. I had wonderful conditions for forest photography on my way in, with soft dappled light filtering through the clouds and illuminating the forest floor.

After the trail joined up with Sargent Brook, I stuck to very narrow views to avoid the direct sunlight casting harsh highlights across the rocks and water. Instead, I looked for reflected light, small cascades tucked fully in the shade, and intimate scenes where backlit spray caught just enough light to glitter.

All in all, it was a great walk, and I was happy with the images I came home with. Now, after eating lunch, taking care of a couple things around the house, and putting this post together, it’s time to go pick up my daughter. I’d say that’s a pretty good way to spend a day.

Upcoming workshop opportunities:

July 20-24, 2026

One spot just opened up!

Take part in an unforgettable island experience in Quebec, Canada! During this all-inclusive photography workshop, we will spend four comfortable nights on an isolated island eating wonderful food, enjoying each other’s company, and photographing Atlantic puffins and other sea birds to our heart’s content. Not only will we have the island almost all to ourselves, we will also be able to move around the island freely for close-up views of puffins all day long and in all types of light! No blinds and no time limits!

Learn More

June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

Learn More & Register

All kidding aside, over the next month the beauty of Acadia will begin to bud and flourish. The trees will green, the brooks will run, and the flowers will bloom. Please enjoy this selection of photographs from spring of last year. Maybe they will inspire you to visit Acadia during one of the quietest and most beautiful times of the year.

As mentioned above, spring is a beautiful time of year in Acadia National Park. It’s also one of the best times to visit and photograph the park. The ever-changing weather creates unique opportunities and the crowds are nearly nonexistent… plus hotel prices are still low!

If you’ve been thinking about experiencing Acadia in a more intentional way, consider joining me for a private, instructional photo tour. I’ll guide you to some of my favorite locations in the park while helping you make the most of the conditions, whatever they may be.

Learn More about My Tours

Another option for exploring the park this spring is to join my friend, Ben Williamson on his one-day group workshop on May 30th. This is a new offering from Ben (and it’s probably full by now), but I highly recommend checking it out:

Learn More

Upcoming workshop opportunities:

June 16-20, 2026

Join Acadia’s night-sky master, Nathaniel Child, on an out-of-this-world photography workshop featuring the epic landscapes and incredibly dark skies of Acadia National Park. We will be spending four nights under the stars at some of Acadia’s most iconic locations, where you’ll be photographing the Milky Way, creating star trails, and learning how to capture pinpoint-sharp stars. You’ll also learn how to blend in foregrounds to your night sky images and stack multiple files together to reduce noise. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to take your nightscapes to the next level!

Learn More

June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

Learn More

Over the past four years, through repeated visits, I’ve been building a collection of photographs that explore this feeling. A space where perception, memory, and the sensory experience all overlap. I’ll continue working on this project until it feels complete and until I’ve found the images and language to fully express it. For now, I’ve assembled a gallery on my website that reflects my ongoing exploration of these ideas. The photographs shown here, from fall of 2025, are the most recent addition.

If these images resonate with you, I invite you to explore the full gallery on my website, compiled from photographs made over the past several years.

View the Gallery

If you want to experience this place for yourself, I have spots open on my Spring in the Finger Lakes workshop June 9-13, 2026. We’ll visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, while also concentrating on small-scene photography, with a pace that allows for personal and reflective photography.

Learn More about the Workshop

I arrived a couple of days before the conference to scout locations and spend time shooting on my own. Those extra days proved invaluable for getting familiar with the locations, light, and bird activity. By the time the conference started, I felt dialed in and ready to both teach and shoot, and despite the busy pace, I managed to come away with a collection of images that I’m genuinely proud of.

I came home with around 9,000 image files (yes, you read that right) but the initial edit went surprisingly fast. Years of doing this have made the process pretty instinctive. During the first pass I’m looking for and rejecting any image where the subject is out of focus or out of frame. It helps to do as much of this as possible at the end of the day or during breaks between field sessions, rather than waiting until after the trip and going through everything all at once.

From there, the culling process became more intentional. I started reviewing images in smaller groups, paying attention to my emotional reaction to different sequences of photos. The frames that pulled me back into a moment, and felt unique to my experience, rose to the top. Once I had those emotional selects, I shifted gears and looked at them with a more technical eye. Composition, sharpness, background, light, and pose all came into play as I narrowed each sequence down to one or two standout images. It’s a different mindset, less about how the image feels at first glance, and more about how well it holds up under scrutiny.

After that, I brought everything together in Survey View in Adobe Lightroom. Seeing the images as a group is always a revealing step. Patterns start to emerge. Similar compositions, repeated subjects, or images that don’t quite hold their weight when placed next to stronger frames all begin to stand out. That broader view helped me chip away even further, refining the collection into something more cohesive.

At that point, I reached out to a handful of other photographers for feedback. Fresh eyes and perspectives are invaluable, especially when you’ve been immersed in the work for so long and, perhaps, are a bit too close to it emotionally. They helped me see outside of my peripheral and, more importantly, gave me the push I needed to make some of the tougher cuts.

The final step brought me back full circle. I revisited the remaining images and once again leaned on my emotional response, making sure the final selection didn’t just showcase strong photographs, but genuinely reflected my time in Florida. In the end, it wasn’t about keeping the “best” images, it was about building a cohesive collection that felt true to the experience and the moments that mattered to me most.

Here’s the best part… out of 9000 image files, I pared down the collection to only 20 photos. You can view the full gallery from this trip on my website.

View the Gallery

It sounds like Out of Chicago might be running this conference again in 2027! Check out their website and subscribe to their mailing list to stay up to date with the OoC offerings: www.outofchicago.com

Upcoming workshop opportunities:

July 20-24, 2026

One spot just opened up!

Take part in an unforgettable island experience in Quebec, Canada! During this all-inclusive photography workshop, we will spend four comfortable nights on an isolated island eating wonderful food, enjoying each other’s company, and photographing Atlantic puffins and other sea birds to our heart’s content. Not only will we have the island almost all to ourselves, we will also be able to move around the island freely for close-up views of puffins all day long and in all types of light! No blinds and no time limits!

Learn More

June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

Learn More

Join Acadia’s night-sky master, Nathaniel Child, June 16-20 for an out-of-this-world photography workshop featuring the epic landscapes and incredibly dark skies of Acadia National Park. you will be spend four nights under the stars at some of Acadia’s most iconic locations, where you’ll be photographing the Milky Way, creating star trails, and learning how to capture pinpoint-sharp stars. You’ll also learn how to blend in foregrounds to your night sky images and stack multiple files together to reduce noise. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to take your images of the night sky to the next level!

Nathaniel Child and I have been leading versions of this workshop since 2021. Over the past two summers, my schedule has kept me from joining, but due to continued interest we’ve kept it running with smaller groups and Nathaniel at the helm, and it’s remained a success.

Each season, Nathaniel guides the group to some of our favorite nighttime locations, including the scene above, where fireflies reliably put on a show and find their way into our images. While certain elements, like the fireflies and the Milky Way, offer a degree of predictability, one of the most rewarding aspects of astrophotography is the unexpected. A meteor streaking through the frame, the northern lights making a surprise appearance… we’re ready for whatever the night brings.

All of these image are Nathaniel’s… I mean, you can see why I call him Acadia’s Night Sky Master, right? I know the dates are right around the corner, but if you want to learn from the best, now is your chance. And who knows, maybe I’ll be able to sneak away and join you for one or two nights!

Learn More & Register

View Nathaniel’s website and more of his images HERE.

Other upcoming workshop opportunities:

July 20-24, 2026

One spot just opened up!

Take part in an unforgettable island experience in Quebec, Canada! During this all-inclusive photography workshop, we will spend four comfortable nights on an isolated island eating wonderful food, enjoying each other’s company, and photographing Atlantic puffins and other sea birds to our heart’s content. Not only will we have the island almost all to ourselves, we will also be able to move around the island freely for close-up views of puffins all day long and in all types of light! No blinds and no time limits!

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June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

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After returning home I found myself digging back through old photos… and now you have to look at them too!

New York gets a bad rep. A reputation built largely on its ancient past and kept alive by Facebook-grade conjecture. Whenever I tell folks that I lived there they tend to make a face and wonder out loud what that was like. The most common assumption, of course, is that New Yorkers are in someway rude or mean, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. They’re direct, which I appreciate, but no more rude than anyone else. They work hard, move fast, and mind their business… but they’ll stop and help without hesitation. They’re loud, expressive, unapologetic. They want to be seen and heard. And they’re funny. My favorite observation about New Yorkers came from Jerry Seinfeld on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. When asked why he lives in New York instead of Los Angeles, he says something along the lines of: “Everyone in New York is funny. The garbage man is funny, the guy in the elevator is funny.” It’s something I’d felt but could never articulate until hearing it.

More than anything, New York is welcoming. Yes, welcoming.

All of these photos were taken during the nine years I lived in New York before moving to Maine in 2015. A handful of these images are from assignments, the rest are just snapshots taken while wandering around the city. I have photos of the Empire State Building and other iconic sites but for this post thought I’d share images of what really makes NYC so special, the real reason I and so many others love New York. They’re not my best photos, but I sure enjoyed taking them.

Being eye to eye with a coastal brown bear is one of the greatest privileges of my life. It’s humbling, exhilarating, and deeply moving all at once… and for the first time I will have the additional privilege of sharing that experience with five lucky individuals on my 2026 Alaska & the Bear Coast photography workshop. The trip sold out shortly after announcing it, so I’m looking ahead to 2027 and and gauging interest in the hopes of running this workshop again. The dates I’m looking at are August 7-14, 2027. Those dates will include four nights at a lodge in the heart of bear country where we’ll fill our days photographing these incredible animals, often from just a few steps away.

Going into my first trip to see and photograph these bears, I knew I would be close… but I had no idea how close! On my first outing, it didn’t take long to realize my 600mm lens was far more than I needed. After we located a bear, our guide positioned us along a line he suspected she would follow as she grazed. Moments later, my first brown bear was only feet away, too close to focus on. It was a gift. I set my camera down and just watched. Experiencing her size, her presence, and looking into her eyes brought more reward than any photograph ever could. I didn’t feel fear. I didn’t feel adrenaline. I felt calm. Grounded. At peace. That was the first of many close encounters.

The most meaningful came on my final day. Once again, we waited quietly along a grazing line. And once again, a bear drifted toward us until she was just feet away. I had a different lens with me, much wider, and I could have kept photographing her, but I lowered my camera so I could just watch and enjoy the experience. I could hear her breathing. I could hear the grass being chewed between her jaws. I could see every hair, every patch of shedding fur, every bit of sand and grit clinging to her coat. The intimacy of it was so overwhelming that it brought tears to my eyes.

When she finished grazing, the sow turned her back to us, laid down, and closed her eyes… think about that. That was the greatest compliment she could have given. It showed that she had complete trust in us.

For 2026, tuition for this all-inclusive workshop is $9,750, and I expect 2027 to be similar. If you’d like a better idea of what to expect, you can take a look at this year’s listing HERE.

If you think you might be interested in joining me in 2027, send me a note through my contact page. This isn’t registration, and it doesn’t hold a spot or commit you to anything. It’s simply a way for me to gauge interest. If this sounds like your kind of adventure, let me know so I can start planning for 2027!

I captured all of these images, and many more, during a single week in Alaska. You can view the full collection from this trip on my website.

View the Gallery

More upcoming workshop opportunities:

June 1-5, 2026

Join me for one of my favorite events of the year… firefly season in the Smokies! The highlight of this workshop is photographing the world-famous synchronous firefly display, a rare natural wonder that happens only once a year and only for about two weeks. After nightfall, beneath a dense canopy of old-growth trees, thousands of fireflies flash in unison, filling the forest. Believe me, it is unlike anything you’ve ever seen… and that is just the beginning!

Learn More

Join me in both the Smokies and in the Finger Lakes (see below), and you’ll receive $400 off registration!

June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

Learn More

Happy Winter Olympics everyone! Below are three images I made yesterday evening at Bass Harbor Head Light here in Acadia National Park. The potential for a colorful sunset was dire but there was no way I was going to pass up a layer of fresh wet snow. Despite the low chance for dramatic light, I still felt drawn to the lighthouse, a spot known for it’s western views. Besides, I’m a hopeful guy, and I’ve seen the sun break through impossible skies more than once in my day…

Well, yesterday wasn’t one of those days. Still, I made good use of the fresh snow!

To get an unobstructed view of the lighthouse you have to clamber waaaaay down to the water’s edge. Between the surf and the warmth of the exposed rock, snow doesn’t tend to linger, so I was grateful to find any of the white stuff at all. I filled most of the foreground in the above photo with a section of snow-capped bedrock then waited for a receding wave to fill the remaining space with white ribbons of water. I’m really happy with how all of the diagonal lines came together, directing the eye to the lighthouse.

Every time I visit Bass Harbor Head Light I look for a new angle. There is not a lot of real estate to work with so it’s never easy. On this visit I noticed that some of the larger waves were creating a cascade over a ledge of rock. I set my tripod (and myself) up in one of the more precarious spots we’ve been together. After dodging a few waves and getting the timing right with the blinking red light in the tower, I scrambled back up the rocks with a couple of keepers, including the image seen above.

It’s always a little disappointing to view the lighthouse and granite cliffs without the last light of the day casting its warm glow on them, but as I passed by this newly opened view, the red light from the tower reflecting off the snow reminded me of the quality of light that you sometimes see at the very end of the day. It inspired me to stop for one last photo.

Upcoming workshop opportunities:

June 1-5, 2026

Join me for one of my favorite events of the year… firefly season in the Smokies! The highlight of this workshop is photographing the world-famous synchronous firefly display, a rare natural wonder that happens only once a year and only for about two weeks. After nightfall, beneath a dense canopy of old-growth trees, thousands of fireflies flash in unison, filling the forest. Believe me, it is unlike anything you’ve ever seen… and that is just the beginning!

Learn More & Register

June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

Learn More & Register

Happy MLK Day! Below are six photographs made over the past two days. I know, I know… these are supposed to be photos from the day, not the holiday weekend. But both Sunday and Monday we woke to a stunning blanket of snow here on Mount Desert Island. With conditions nearly identical each morning, and with me mostly photographing the same subjects in the same locations, it made sense to include them all together.

My first stop on Sunday, seen above, was a beautiful view looking over private property and down Somes Sound. In more than ten years of living here, I’ve always appreciated this view while driving by, but have rarely stopped. With all that snow clinging to the trees, I couldn’t pass it up.

After another stop that didn’t yield much in the way of images, my next stop was a spot I call The Secret Donut Eating Spot. I discovered this location years ago while looking for a place where my then two-year-old son and I could sit and eat the donuts we’d just bought. That day started a long-standing tradition. Unfortunately, the donut shop is closed in the winter, so I had to fly my drone on an empty stomach. I’d been eyeing this grouping of floating docks covered in mooring buoys all season, and they looked especially good dusted with snow and rendered in black and white.

From there, I headed home, but got distracted when I spotted a red ice fishing hut out on one of the ponds while driving by. I thought I might be able to compose it against one of Acadia’s mountains, so I parked and hiked through the woods and out onto the pond, only to discover it was a popup hut, far less interesting than one of those homemade deals. I did, however, get a welcome opportunity with a bald eagle. I only had my 70–200mm lens with me, but thankfully the bird made a very close flyby.

This morning I headed out hoping to capture a view with my drone that I first photographed back in 2018. Every previous attempt, most of them around that same time, came with expectations and ended in disappointment: the light wasn’t right, there wasn’t enough snow, there was too much fog, and so on. This morning I went out without expectations, knowing I’d make the best of whatever I found, and I came home happy, with the image above.

I also captured the image below of the frozen surface of a tidal marsh… or was this the bottom of the coffee mug I found on my dest three weeks after I drank coffee from it?

And finally, I spent an hour sitting by a pond waiting for these three to pop their heads out. I’d spotted one otter yesterday but never had the chance to photograph it, so I made a point of going back today and was ecstatic to find more than one. I messaged my wife, and she said she’d bring the kids down to see them… they disappeared shortly after, of course. The kids were happy enough watching ducks and exploring the winter wonderland around us.

What a couple of days! I promised my youngest we’d look for the otters again tomorrow before going to daycare… fingers crossed!

Upcoming workshop opportunities:

June 1-5, 2026

Join me for one of my favorite events of the year… firefly season in the Smokies! The highlight of this workshop is photographing the world-famous synchronous firefly display, a rare natural wonder that happens only once a year and only for about two weeks. After nightfall, beneath a dense canopy of old-growth trees, thousands of fireflies flash in unison, filling the forest. Believe me, it is unlike anything you’ve ever seen… and that is just the beginning!

Learn More & Register

June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

Learn More & Register

For the second year in a row, I’m also bringing a group to Quebec to stay on an island for four nights that is home to a large seabird nesting colony. This is a dream location, with 24 hour access to the birds and comfortable accommodations with home cooked meals.

Puffins & the Bold Coast of Maine

June 25-28, 2026

Join me, and my good friends Benjamin Williamson and Nathaniel Child from June 25-28, 2026, on a photography workshop to the famous Atlantic puffin nesting colony of Machias Seal Island! During our three mornings together we will travel ten miles out to sea to visit the summer home of thousands of nesting seabirds. With three excursions to the island, our workshop is designed to maximize your chance of filling your memory card full of close-up shots of puffins! Between our island visits, we will take time for group image reviews as well as outings to several spectacular coastal locations to photograph dramatic cliffs, lighthouses, fishing harbors, and more.

Learn More & Register

Puffins of Île aux Perroquets

July 20-24, 2026

Take part in an unforgettable island experience in Quebec, Canada! During this all-inclusive photography workshop, we will spend four comfortable nights on an isolated island eating wonderful food, enjoying each other’s company, and photographing Atlantic puffins and other sea birds to our heart’s content. Not only will we have the island almost all to ourselves, we will also be able to move around the island freely for close-up views of puffins all day long and in all types of light! No blinds and no time limits! This is an educational workshop meant not only to expose you to a rarely visited corner of the world but also to help you improve your skills as a photographer with in-the-field guidance and post-processing instruction. This class is only open to residents of the U.S.

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Atlantic puffins won’t be the only flavor of puffin I’ll be photographing in 2026. During my Alaska &the Bear Coast workshop we will also have opportunities to photograph both horned and tufted puffins! Species we do not get to see on the east coast. I just had a cancelation on this once in a lifetime trip, who’s going to fill it?

Learn More & Register

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again… being eye to eye with a coastal brown bear is one of the greatest privileges of my life. It’s humbling, exhilarating, and deeply moving all at once. Now, you have the chance to share that experience with me. From July 31 – August 6, 2026, we’ll journey deep into the Alaskan experience, including four nights at a lodge in the heart of bear country. Most of our days will be spent photographing these incredible animals as they fish, graze, and interact, often just a few steps away.

During our stay in Lake Clark National Park, we’ll also head out by boat to a nearby seabird colony, home to horned and tufted puffins, black-legged kittiwakes, murres, oystercatchers, and more. For those who want even more, I’ll also be offering an optional full-day excursion before the workshop begins with opportunities to photograph humpbacks, orcas, seals, and sea otters. A visit to a glacier will round out a day on the water you’ll never forget.

The detailed itinerary and registration info can be found at the link below:

Learn More & Register

I captured all of these images, and many more, during a single week in Alaska. You can view the full collection from this trip on my website.

View the Gallery

More upcoming workshop opportunities:

June 1-5, 2026

Join me for one of my favorite events of the year… firefly season in the Smokies! The highlight of this workshop is photographing the world-famous synchronous firefly display, a rare natural wonder that happens only once a year and only for about two weeks. After nightfall, beneath a dense canopy of old-growth trees, thousands of fireflies flash in unison, filling the forest. Believe me, it is unlike anything you’ve ever seen… and that is just the beginning!

Learn More

Join me in the Smokies and in the Finger Lakes (see below), and you’ll receive $400 off registration!

June 9-13, 2026

Join us for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout.

Learn More

New images from my October trip to the Finger Lakes coming soon!