Fill The Frame
March 12, 2026
Fill the Frame: A guide to creating bold, intimate, and detail‑rich images
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Golden autumn leaves on the forest floor fill the frame
I'm continuing my series of deep dives into each compositional rule of photography. This week, we are focusing on 'Fill the Frame'. Filling the frame is one of the fastest ways to c...
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Challenge #10: Leading Lines
March 11, 2026
This week’s challenge focuses on leading lines, one of the most intuitive ways to draw viewers into a scene. In nature, these lines can appear anywhere — a winding trail, the edge of a meadow, ripples on water and slot canyons, where sculpted walls and flowing curves naturally pull the eye deeper into the frame. Leading lines don’t need to be perfe...
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A Masked Bandit on a Mission
March 10, 2026
What do you do when a raccoon is charging in your direction? You photograph it! This week’s shot comes from one of those wonderfully chaotic field moments when I was fully prepared with my gear but absolutely not prepared, mentally, for a masked bandit to come barreling straight at me. One second I was scanning the water for grebes, the next I was...
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California Wildflowers 2026
March 05, 2026
California Wildflowers 2026: Best Places to Photograph the Spring Bloom
Text and photos by Heather Cline
California’s wildflower season is back, and 2026 is shaping up to be a rewarding year for photographers. Winter rainfall has been moderate but well‑timed, which usually produces steady, reliable blooms rather than the dramatic boom‑and‑bust cy...
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Challenge #9: Minimalism
March 04, 2026
This week’s challenge is all about minimalism — the art of saying more with less. I’m starting with a simple image of a sparrow perched on a bare limb against a clean white background. Minimalism invites us to let go of clutter and focus on the essentials: a single subject, a quiet line, a moment of stillness that holds its own kind of beauty. Look...
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Let's Dance
March 03, 2026
Jellyfish are often described as solitary drifters, but their social world is more complex than it might appear. Many species do spend much of their lives alone, carried by currents and pulsing quietly through the water. But under the right conditions, they can also gather in astonishing numbers, forming large, often seasonal groupings driven by cu...
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How Animals Use Patterns for Survival - and How to Photograph Them
February 26, 2026
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Patterns aren’t just something we see in landscapes and plants — animals rely on them too. From the stripes that break up a zebra’s outline to the synchronized movement of a flock of birds, patterns help wildlife survive in a world full of predators, competitors, and environmental challenges. As photographers, unde...
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Challenge #8: The Energy in Everything
February 25, 2026
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This week’s photo challenge is Motion & Energy, inspired by the ocean wave that kicked off this idea. Waves are never still—they curl, crash, stretch, and dissolve—and that sense of constant movement can show up in so many subjects beyond the coast. Look for anything that carries momentum: wind pushing through grass, birds lifting off, traffic stre...
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Stop Badgering Me
February 24, 2026
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This week’s shot resulted from a mixture of luck and patience when a badger emerged from his den and gave me with a look that could only be described as mildly offended, as if I’d shown up uninvited and interrupted whatever evening plans he had in motion. Badgers are well known for being tough, efficient diggers who prefer to go about their busines...
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Landscape Photography Tips for Every Environment
February 19, 2026
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Layered panoramic - Lassen National Forest
Landscape photography is varied and rewarding because every Environment Has Its Own Personality. Mountains, forests, deserts, beaches — each one behaves differently. Light moves differently. Weather shifts differently. Textures, colors, and shapes all tell their own sto...
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Challenge #7: The Perfect Storm
February 18, 2026
After a brief warm spell in early February, winter has returned to California with clouds, rain, and wind. Instead of shutting the blinds and waiting it out, this week’s challenge invites you to step outside and embrace this delightful weather pattern. Bad weather can transform ordinary scenes into something dramatic, moody, or unexpectedly beautif...
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Wildlife refuge for one
February 17, 2026
This is one of those photo captures that made my day. This is a California sea lion that claimed some unexpected real estate — curled up inside an old tire fender, fast asleep and perfectly content. While the larger bulls jostled and barked for space on the dock, this little guy found a clever loophole in the system, completely oblivious to the rau...
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What If Your Neighbor Stole Your Casserole?
February 12, 2026
Text and photos by Heather Cline
When I’m out photographing wildlife, I often find myself asking "what if?" What if the moment your dinner came out of the oven, your neighbor burst through the door and tried to wrestle it out of your hands? What if you had to crack open every meal using only your jaws? What if you had to stay alert every second...
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Challenge #6: Two of a Kind: Valentine’s Edition
February 11, 2026
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In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, this week’s photo challenge (#6) is all about pairs. While the classic rule of odds suggests that odd-numbered groupings hold a viewer’s attention, some rules are made to be broken—and there’s something undeniably charming about two animals bonding, just like these black‑tailed does. Maybe they’re celebrating a lit...
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Splish, Splash, Bluebird Bath
February 10, 2026
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This western bluebird taking a bath in a rain puddle is a good reminder that memorable images don’t always come from grand adventures. With the right light and a bit of patience, even the simplest subjects can feel pretty special. It’s easy to forget that when social media is overflowing with photos from far‑flung places, but unique moments are hap...
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