Power & Beauty: Photographing Brown Bears

Tips for Photographing Brown Bears Wildlife Photography

Join pro-photographer David Swindler as he shares his best tips and tricks for photographing brown bears in the wild. Watch the video below where David will talk in-depth on the following subjects: About Brown Bears Safety Bear Activities When To Go Where to Go Photo Gear Shooting Techniques Putting It All Together Join Us for…

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Camera Settings for Wildlife Photography

Camera Setting for Wildlife Photography

As workshop instructors, we often get asked what are the correct camera settings for wildlife photography. Indeed, nailing the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO is absolutely essential for successful wildlife photography. The settings you use will depend on many factors, such as the type of animal you are shooting, the available light, the background, the…

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Making an Image, Not Just Taking an Image

Making an Image Not Just Taking an Image

In this inaugural episode of the Images in Focus Photography Show, Juan Pons and David Swindler discuss the thought process behind making great photos. Topics include choosing your composition, defining the background, how to tell a story, and what kind of shot settings you should use! Learn how to plan your shots before you ever…

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Photographing Bears

Spring Cub

Out of all wildlife, I enjoy photographing bears the most. They are majestic and powerful animals that demand respect. The patient observer can be rewarded with a glimpse into their complex social network. They can exhibit so many human-like antics, attitudes, and behaviors. It’s fascinating to see them playing with each other, fighting, catching food,…

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Bighorn Sheep Rut

Wyoming Bighorn Sheep

Late November into December is my favorite time to see the bighorn sheep rut. This is the period in which they mate. The sheep are much more tolerant of human presence since they are primarily concerned about each other. This is when you can observe many interesting behaviors and take some great photographs. The males…

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Bald Eagles Fishing

Mississippi River Bald Eagles

Each winter, hundreds of bald eagles congregate along the Mississippi River. Numbers often peak around mid-January. Of course, this all depends on how cold the temperatures are. When it’s warm, the eagles spread out all along the river corridor and are much harder to spot. As it gets colder, the river freezes except near the…

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Wilcox Pass

Wilcox Pass Bighorn Sheep

Wilcox Pass is a popular hiking route in the Canadian Rockies. The trailhead is located just south of Columbia Icefields Discovery Center in Jasper National Park. It’s a 6.5 mile round trip hike with 1000 ft of vertical gain. The effort to climb up is amply rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding peaks and…

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Photographing Alaskan Polar Bears – Part 2

Polar Bear Family

As discussed in my Previous Post, Kaktovik, Alaska is a mecca for polar bear enthusiasts. Polar bear cubs will usually stay with their mothers for 2.5 years while they learn to hunt and survive in one of the harshest climates on earth. The cubs are always so fun to watch because they are innately curious…

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Photographing Polar Bears in Alaska – Part 1

King of the Tundra

Welcome to Kaktovik, Alaska, a small Eskimo village located on the northeast shores of the Arctic Ocean. The small barrier islands around Kaktovik are a great habitat for polar bears, especially in the fall months as they wait for the sea ice to freeze solid. The waters around Kaktovik form part of ANWR, the Arctic…

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Photographing the Dalton Highway – Part 2

Caribou on the Dalton Highway

And now for the best part of the Dalton Highway – the Brooks Range and the North Slope! Before the trip, I had high hopes to see some wildlife in this section of the highway. When I was filling up with gas at Coldfoot, I asked some hunters if they had any luck spotting caribou.…

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