Hippos are often found wallowing in calm, shallow ponds filled with water lilies, where the floating vegetation provides both shade and camouflage. While hippos don’t eat the lilies themselves, their presence can help maintain open water channels through the dense growth. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1400, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.
The waterbuck is a large, shaggy antelope commonly found near rivers, swamps, and lakes across sub-Saharan Africa. Its name comes from its strong preference for staying close to water sources—both for drinking and as a refuge from predators. We spotted this one on our last day in the Masai Mara while on the way to the airstrip. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 64, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.
The black spiny-tailed iguana is a fast, rugged reptile native to Central America, often found basking on rocks, ruins, or tree limbs. Named for the row of sharp, spiky scales along its tail, it uses this feature for defense against predators. Despite its tough appearance, it’s an omnivore, feeding on everything from leaves and fruit to insects and small animals. It’s also one of the fastest lizards in the world, capable of sprinting at impressive speeds to escape danger. In some regions, it’s become highly adaptable, even thriving in urban environments. This one was hanging out around the pool at the resort we stayed at in Belize a few years back. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
The fan-shaped crest of the Guianan cock-of-the-rock evolved through sexual selection and it plays a crucial role in courtship displays. Males with the largest, most symmetrical, and eye-catching crests tend to attract more females at the communal lek sites where mating occurs. The disc-like shape helps exaggerate head movements and catch the light during their elaborate dances, making the male more visually striking. Over time, this preference likely drove the evolution of such an extreme and ornamental feature, even if it makes feeding and vision slightly less efficient, the payoff in reproductive success outweighs the cost. In this image, the bird is staring straight at camera and you can see the usually hidden beak. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 4000, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.
The Guianan squirrel monkey is a small, highly social primate found in the tropical forests of northern South America, especially in the Guianas and parts of the Amazon Basin. With bright yellow limbs, a white face, and a black cap on its head, it’s one of the most colorful members of the squirrel monkey group. These agile monkeys travel in large troops, sometimes over 50 individuals, leaping through the canopy in search of fruit, insects, and small vertebrates. Their constant chatter and quick movements make them both entertaining and challenging to observe in the wild. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1250, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second.
Photographing mountain gorillas can be a challenge, even though you can get extremely close. You can only be with the gorillas for an hour once you find them and there’s no guarantee on the setting or the light. On our last trip, the thick vegetation and bright sunshine definitely presented some difficulties, but every now and again a gorilla turned to a favorable angle to the sun and I was able to get a handful of shots that I liked. A polarizing filter also came in handy to take the bright spots off the leaves. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 135mm), ISO 1000, f/5 at 1/640th of a second.
Female gentoo penguins typically lay two eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them, carefully balancing the eggs on their feet and under a warm flap of abdominal skin called a brood pouch. Shifts can last for days, with one adult guarding the nest while the other forages at sea. Once the chicks hatch, both parents continue to share duties, feeding them regurgitated food and shielding them from the cold and predators. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 19mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/640th of a second.
The emerald tree boa is a non-venomous snake native to the rainforests of South America, especially the Amazon Basin. With vivid green scales marked by jagged white stripes, it blends perfectly into the canopy where it spends most of its life coiled on branches. Despite its relaxed appearance, it’s an ambush predator, striking with lightning speed to snatch birds, lizards, and small mammals. Unlike many snakes, the emerald tree boa gives birth to live young—miniature versions of itself that start out orange or red before turning green as they mature. This boa was photographed in the upper Amazon basin of Peru. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/9 at 1/80th of a second, Godox flash.
Dall sheep are white mountain dwellers native to the rugged peaks of Alaska and northwestern Canada. Their bright coats blend perfectly with snow-covered cliffs, offering camouflage from predators like wolves and eagles. Agile and sure-footed, they navigate steep, rocky terrain with ease, often scaling near-vertical slopes to escape danger. This one was photographed just outside of Anchorage a few years back. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 350mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.
Here’s another one from southern Chile. These guys are wild relatives of the llama, native to the grasslands and mountains of Patagonia. With their slender frames, thick reddish-brown coats, and graceful stride, guanacos are built to thrive in harsh, high-altitude environments. They live in small herds and rely on keen eyesight and speed to evade predators like pumas. When threatened, they emit a high-pitched alarm call to warn the group. They are iconic symbols of the rugged southern Andes. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens. (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.