Brown Capuchin Monkey
Another throwback — to my first visit to Bolivia’s Madidi National Park in the Amazon. A brown capuchin pausing to inspect a seed pod. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second.
Pygmy Marmoset
The pygmy marmoset is the world’s smallest monkey, weighing just 3 to 5 ounces and measuring around 5 inches long (excluding its tail). Native to the Amazon rainforest, it uses sharp lower teeth to gouge tree bark and feed on sap and gum. I saw quite a few of them over two trips to the Loreto region of Peru in the upper Amazon basin. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.
Lion Post Sunset
Lions like to get active just after the sun sets. This young male was scoping out the area for any potential prey — a highlight of our tour in June of 2024. If you’d like to join a Crane Wildlife Tours trip to Africa, reach out to get the conversation started. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1400, f/2.8 at 1/640th of a second.
Wide Angle Elephant
Here’s another elephant that I was able to photograph from a ground-level perspective using a wide angle lens, inverted monopod and remote trigger. In Samburu National Reserve in the north of Kenya, the elephants take on a reddish tint due to the red clay dirt of the landscape. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 24mm) ISO 160, f/4.5 at 1/500th of a second.
Bison in Blizzard
Seemed like a good day to resurface this old shot from Yellowstone during a springtime blizzard back in 2011. We’re looking at about two feet outside my window today (and still snowing). Hope everyone is keeping safe and warm. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/7.1 at 1/400th of a second.
Clearwing Butterfly
Clearwing butterflies are known for their transparent wings, an adaptation that helps them vanish into their forest surroundings. Instead of relying on bright colors for warning or attraction, their see-through wings reduce visibility to predators. This species, (Ithomia diasia hippocrenis) was photographed in El Valle, Panama. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 105mm macro lens, ISO 1600, f/8 at 1/320th of a second.
Hoary Marmot
Hoary marmots, often called “whistle pigs” for their high-pitched alarm calls, are a common sight among the alpine meadows and rocky slopes of Mount Rainier in Washington State. These large ground squirrels spend the short summer season feeding and basking in the sun to build fat reserves for their long hibernation, which can last up to eight months. Social and vocal, they often perch on rocks to watch for predators. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/500th of a second.
Young Male or Female Lion?
Sometimes it can be tricky to distinguish a young male lion from a female. This lion clearly had what looked like the beginning growth of a mane, but sure enough it turned out to be a female. Certain older subadult and dominant females can have slight scruff on the jawline. She was the first lion we saw on our June of 2023 trip — day one in Nairobi National Park. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 560, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.
Prairie Dog
When a prairie dog stretches up and throws its arms wide like this, it’s often performing what’s called a “jump-yip” — a dramatic social behavior that can serve as both a territory call and a kind of group alert or check-in. The sudden, exaggerated pose is usually followed by a high-pitched bark, and if others respond, it can ripple through the colony like a wave. It’s a quirky but effective way for prairie dogs to maintain group cohesion and assess their surroundings in open grasslands. Photographed years ago in the Badlands of South Dakota. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 600mm manual focus lens, ISO 500, f/11 at 1/320th of a second.
Eastern Quoll
Interesting fact about the endangered eastern quoll — they glow under UV light, revealing hidden blue-green patterns. It’s thought that this is for communication or camouflage in nocturnal environments, but the exact purpose is still being researched. Quolls are night hunters, crucial to controlling pests like mice and insects, and they are known as risky scavengers, sometimes even stealing scraps from Tasmanian devils. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 105mm lens, ISO 160, f/3 at 1/320th of a second.