Mark’s journal of photographic projects, thoughts, and commentary.
The heritage flight program is a very good way of remembering the history and heritage of aircraft (usually fighters) used in aviation campaigns of the past, and pairing them with a more modern day aircraft that remain useful for today’s military. The community of Ottumwa Iowa has a long history in aviation, with the airport … Read more
After reviewing a few of the videos I’ve shot in the past, this has turned out to be one of my favorites. It was an incredible morning. A family of young Merlins (falcons) was ready to fledge and we timed things perfectly. It was a rambunctious morning with a lot of flying, a few bad … Read more
The spring migration of Sandhill Cranes through central Nebraska is one of nature’s greatest spectacles. From late February through early April some 600,000 cranes will pass through this area, stopping for a few weeks to rest and recover along the Platte river. It’s an ancient route of passage.
The cranes are returning from winter grounds in the southern US, and Mexico, and heading to nesting locations throughout the northern US, Canada, Alaska, and even Siberia. Along that lengthy route they need certain places to safely roost and find ample foods supplies and so the shallow Platte allows for nightly roosting protection, and the nearby picked grain fields are a haven for hungry cranes.
Of the thousands of images I’ve taken of Bald Eagles, there are a few that stand out as my favorites. This is one of them. It’s not so much a memorable image for it’s quality, but more so for the story that it tells. Food for eagles, while not a rare commodity in most places, … Read more
Badlands National Park in Western South Dakota is an amazing place. Then again, I suspect you could say that about any national park. They are all awesome for their own unique reasons. As far as the Badlands are concerned, I’ve found myself there more often in the winter than in any other season, and frankly … Read more
Of all the eagle images I’ve acquired over the last handful of years, this one would have to have the most significance, at least in terms of generating a pleasant, unforgettable memory. It was in late December, which is usually when we start seeing the numbers of eagles climb in the area. This particular day … Read more