Wildlife photography is a competitive field, with photographers striving to capture unique and beautiful images of wildlife in their natural habitats. While this competition can be healthy and motivating, it is important for photographers to treat each other with respect and professionalism.

Here are some tips on how wildlife photographers can maintain positive relationships with their colleagues:

Respect each other's space: Wildlife photography often takes place in remote and sensitive environments, where photographers need to be mindful of their impact on wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem. Photographers should respect each other's personal space and avoid getting too close to each other or the wildlife they are photographing.

Share knowledge and tips: Wildlife photography can be challenging, and photographers can benefit from sharing their knowledge and experience with each other. This can include tips on camera techniques, equipment, or best practices for working in specific environments.  It can also include sharing locations with other photographers who love photographing the wildlife as much as you do, as long as sharing that information doesn't lead to overcrowding, disturbing the wildlife, or harm to the wildlife being photographed.

Be gracious in defeat: Wildlife photography is often a game of chance, and one photographer may capture a shot that another photographer was hoping to get. It is important to be gracious and congratulatory towards fellow photographers, even when they get the shot you wanted.  This point here is probably the one I've noticed other photographers have the most difficulty with.  I have experienced being on the other end of a jealous photographer on more than one occasion, and have often been treated badly simply because I was lucky enough to be in a good spot at a particular time.  And believe it or not, I have been treated badly by other photographers because of the fine art I create from my images!  

Avoid negative criticism: Negative criticism can be hurtful and unproductive. Instead of criticizing each other's work, photographers should offer constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement -- but only when asked!  Unwanted criticism, even something you consider "positive", is sometimes not welcome.

Collaborate: Collaborating with other photographers can be a great way to improve your skills and create new opportunities. Photographers can work together on projects, share resources, or mentor each other.

By following these tips, wildlife photographers can maintain positive relationships with their colleagues and create a supportive community within the field. This can lead to a more fulfilling and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

**Art at the top of this post was created by pairing my photo of a short eared owl with the Glow Over The Marsh painted background.

Photographing wildlife is a challenging and rewarding pursuit, and the weather can greatly impact the quality of your images. While sunny days may seem like the perfect time to capture wildlife, cloudy days can actually be much better for wildlife photography.  And here's why:

1. Soft, even lighting: On cloudy days, the light is diffused and creates a soft, even light that eliminates harsh shadows and highlights. This soft light is ideal for capturing the details and textures of wildlife, making your images more visually appealing.​
2. Better color reproduction: Cloudy days also lead to more accurate color reproduction, as the light is less harsh and does not wash out the colors in your images. This is especially important for capturing the vibrant hues of birds and other brightly colored wildlife.
3. Lower contrast: Lower contrast light on cloudy days also helps to reduce the risk of overexposure, as it reduces the contrast between the light and dark areas in your images. This results in images that have more detail and a better overall dynamic range.
4. Better conditions for wildlife: Wildlife is often more active and visible on cloudy days, as the reduced light can make it easier for animals to move around without overheating. This is particularly true for nocturnal animals, which are often more active during the day when it's cloudy.
5. Reduced reflections: Lastly, cloudy days reduce reflections and glare on water, glass, or other reflective surfaces. This can make it easier to capture images of animals in their natural habitats without distractions from reflections and glare.

In conclusion, cloudy days offer numerous benefits for wildlife photography, from the soft and even lighting to the better conditions for wildlife. So next time you're planning to head out for a wildlife photography session, consider opting for a cloudy day for the best results.
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**Example art above was created with a cloudy day photo and one of the floral backgrounds from the Pastel Floral Collection.

It's so easy and fast to mask your photo right in with the new Altered Collection textures!  In the video below, I show you how I create an artistic bobcat portrait in under 15 minutes using this collection.  

In this video, I demonstrate using the Forgotten Coast background with a snapshot of a wet bald eagle on a dreary day.  

This morning I created a new work of art featuring one of our sweet fawns who is ready to begin the journey into the world.  I use the new "The Wind Stills" background for this art.  I hope you enjoy the video!

Good Morning!  Fall is in the air here in Tennessee, and believe it or not, I still have a few magnolia flowers blooming.  A customer asked me recently about creating flower art and how I get the softness and cloud-like look.  So I decided to do a short video for you guys.  I hope this is helpful!

Key Points:

•  It's all in the masking!  Flower on top of texture, mask away edges using a large, round, soft brush.
•  Mask right over the edges of petals and leaves, varying size and opacity of the brush
•  Duplicate the bottom texture layer and put it on top - try various layer modes and opacities for that layer.  This brings the color and texture of the actual texture right into your flower
•  Use textures from different collections if desired.  Mask away parts of the texture layer if necessary.

In this video, I create another work of Great Horned Owl art, this time using one of the backgrounds from the Moods 2 Petite Collection.  Enjoy!

In the video below, I create a work of moody bear art using the new Moods 1 Petite Collection. 

For this piece, I blended one of my recent owl photos with backgrounds and textures from the Stormscapes and Starry Skies collections.  Watch the video below!

It's been a while since I've done any new videos...so I thought you might enjoy seeing me work with the new Fragile Collection and just how easy it is!  Also, I'm posting more of the art I create with my resources on my instagram account nowadays...I invite you to follow me on Instagram here.  See the video below: