Capturing the Moment

  I took this photo from about 300ft above me with my dji mini 4k drone. The colors leading into Smugglers Notch show why this is one of the most famous drives for 'leaf peepers' here in America. Leaf peeping season is on here in Vermont. Early October brings some amazing natural views to our state, especially up in the mountains where I live. Here in Stowe, tourists from all over flock here to catch a glimpse of the forest turning bright yellow, fire red, and all shades of orange. It only last for a short while and we never know if it will be a good year, but for now, the wait is over. I wanted to get some unique shots of the changing of the leaves, so I decided to head up to Smuggler's Notch. There are some amazing hikes and views, and that should be where the colors start to change first. I was in luck! I stopped right at the beginning of the notch at a picnic area to send up my drone for a look above the canopy. The colors were magnificent. I had always wanted to hike u

Sailing into the sunset on Lake Champlain. You never know what kind of weather to expect from the last weekend in September in Lake Champlain, but we scored an amazing one for our end of season trip with the family out to Stave Island. Nestled in the middle of Lake Champlain, between Vermont and New York, Stave Island is the perfect getaway for the kids. There is miles of shoreline to explore, a bog with a secretive snapping turtle, stories of hidden treasure, a beach, a tower to climb, and acres of woods to play in. With no shows or tablets, it is the perfect place to commune with nature and get in touch with the wild. Every sunset is appreciated, usually with a sundowner cocktail in hand, and the night sky can be absolutely brilliant. Running into Fall at the Stave Island farm house We soaked up every minute of this weekend, knowing that it could be our last until we open the island back up next Spring. Catalina, Fisher, and I even managed to get a circumnavigation of the island in o

  1. Embrace Early Mornings & Late Afternoons The golden hours — just after sunrise and before sunset — offer soft, warm lighting that enhances the natural beauty of the Galápagos landscapes and wildlife. The cooler temperatures also make the animals more active, giving you better opportunities for capturing dynamic shots of creatures like sea lions, iguanas, and birds in their natural behaviors. The early morning light really brings out the yellow dragon scales of this land iguana. 2. Use a Zoom Lens for Wildlife To capture the diverse wildlife, from blue-footed boobies to giant tortoises, a zoom lens (70-300mm or more) is essential. Many species are protected, and you won’t be able to get too close without disturbing them, so a zoom allows you to photograph animals in detail from a respectful distance. My 400mm lens captures this Galapagos subspecies of the Yellow Warbler nicely ( Setophaga petechis aureola ) 3. Pack a Polarizing Filter The bright sun, vibrant blue waters, and vo

 What an amazing, non stop trip we just had to Savannah. Dela, Fisher, and I just spent a week staying at the Blue House, and hanging with Grandma Nancy, Babu and Nana, Lea and David, and all the Boys as well. We had lots of morning walks on the Bluff, playground visits, a big boat ride out towards Wassaw, aquarium time with crab catching, and pool time. Fisher and Babu caught a ton of fish, including a big striped bass. We went to the Pirates House to see the infamous tunnel leading underground to the Savannah River, where pirates used to shanghai drunk patrons to join their shorthanded crews. We watched trains and built legos, finished puzzles and collected eggs.     We had good animals as well, with some close, big alligators, tons of frogs, a box turtle, some deer, and even a big water moccasin (cottonmouth) snake that we caught and relocated out at the Ford. One of the coolest animal moments was Dela's very first alligator catching night. At two and a half years old it was fin

View into Smuggler's Notch at the top of Vermont      September 22 means the first day of Fall, and that is a big deal here in Stowe, Vermont. This part of the Northeast of the United States, is quite famous for its beautiful fall foliage. To celebrate the turning of seasons I hit the mountains with the whole family. First we grabbed our Epic ski passes for an early season trip up the Gondola at Stowe Mountain Resort. This took us very close to the highest peak of Vermont, called Mount Mansfield. We had a great view from the top. The kids really wanted to do some rock climbing and some mountain goating, which is what they call hiking on the boulder strewn trail heading up towards the peak. It is pretty impressive to see how there hiking skills and coordination have really improved.     After waving at every gondola on our way down, we had one more stop to check out. At the entrance to Smuggler's Notch, there is a beautiful boardwalk trail which heads into a beaver-created wetla