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Fall color travel destinations 2025
October 02, 2025 - Fall Color 2025: Where To Go For Fall Foliage
Text and photography by Heather Cline
Autumn is here, ushering in crisp...
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Wildlife of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
September 04, 2025 - Fur, Scales, and Feathers: A Wildlife Journey Through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Text and photos by Heather Cl...
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Morning steam
September 02, 2025 - One morning in Yellowstone, I was photographing the sunrise over Lake Yellowstone when I noticed a few shorebirds starti...
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Family Portrait
August 12, 2025 - While out on a recent morning walk, I spotted this delightful scene of a mother ground squirrel and her four curious pup...
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Sculpted in Sunshine
July 15, 2025 - Early morning and late afternoon light doesn’t just illuminate—it sculpts the subjects photographers live to capture in...
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Of Pikas and Polars
July 10, 2025 - Of Pikas and Polars: The Ties Between These Two Species
Text and photos by Heather Cline
At first glance, it might see...
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Motherhood in the meadow
July 08, 2025 - Summer can be a challenging time for photography in the hot Sacramento valley, but one of the highlights are the Black T...
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Tips for Stunning Butterfly Shots
July 03, 2025 - Through the Lens: Tips for Stunning Butterfly Shots
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Delicate, elusive, and brilliant...
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Wildlife Environmental Portraits
June 26, 2025 - Wildlife Environmental Portraits: Featuring wildlife in their environment
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Common Me...
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I'll grow into these ears
June 24, 2025 - I have been extremely fortunate this spring to observe a family of coyotes with 4 pups in the preserve near my home. It'...
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Nature Photographer’s Guide to Focal Length
June 19, 2025 - Choosing the Right Lens: A Nature Photographer’s Guide to Focal Length
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Fireweed, Gl...
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A lovely evening for a row
June 17, 2025 - This group of kayakers is enjoying an evening row across Yellowstone Lake in the same national park. This Lake is a hub...
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River Life
June 12, 2025 - River Life: The Wildlife That Calls These Flowing Waters Home
Text and photos by Heather Cline
American River sunset...
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A rare sight
June 10, 2025 - The Black-necked stilt is not a rare bird - but is not a common visitor to the section of river that I frequently visit.
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Location profile: Redwoods National and State Parks
June 05, 2025 - Text and photos by Heather Cline
The Redwood National and State Parks form a network of protected lands, encompassing o...
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Do I have Anything in My Teeth?
June 03, 2025 - How can something so ferocious also be so darn cute? Those whiskers aren't just for looks, they are used to detect prey...
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Celebrating spring
May 29, 2025 - Celebrating spring
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Spring is nature’s grand reopening. It is a time of rapid change a...
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First Fawn!
May 27, 2025 - This little cutie is the first Black Tail fawn I spotted this year! Black-tailed fawns are born between late spring and...
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Design Your Shot
May 22, 2025 - Design Your Shot: A Guide to Thoughtful Photography Composition
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Photography isn’t j...
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A Body Built For Speed
May 20, 2025 - This is a Long-tailed weasel, a critter whose sleek and aero-dynamic body was built for speed. They use this to their ad...
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Hummingbirds: Tiny Marvels of Flight
May 15, 2025 - Text and photos by Heather Cline
Hummingbirds are my favorite of all birds. I tell my husband on a regular basis that '...
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Bob the builder
May 13, 2025 - In this case, it's likely 'Barbara The Builder' because this is a California Towhee and for this species, the female is...
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Back to basics: Nature Photography
May 08, 2025 - Back to basics: Nature Photography
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Juvenile Antelope Squirrel, Carrizo Plains Natio...
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I dare you to hate me
May 06, 2025 - This is a Canada goose (gosling), a bird that I hear people complain about on a regular basis. I was chatting with a fel...
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Bird Yoga
April 29, 2025 - This is a Northern Flicker, a medium sized bird of the woodpecker family. It is North America’s widest-ranging woodpecke...
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Hunting Styles
April 24, 2025 - Hunting Styles: Hunting behaviors of 5 different species of wildlife
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Sea Otter with...
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Picture Perfect
April 15, 2025 - I feel as though this Red Fox was anticipating his close-up and went into hair and makeup before posing for this image....
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Using snags to snag photos
April 10, 2025 - Natures Dying Gift: Using Snags to Snag Nature Images
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Great Blue Heron surveys his...
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Species Highlight: Coyotes
April 03, 2025 - Species Highlight: Coyote
Text and photos by Heather Cline
This species highlight is going to differ from my usual for...
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Glorious Green
March 17, 2025 - Glorious Green: The Most Abundant Color In Nature
Text and photos by Heather Cline
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I th...
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Cruising the Plains
March 04, 2025 - This is an American Bison, cruising the plains of Yellowstone National Park. Bison ancestors existed in Asia roughly 2.6...
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The secret lives of frogs
February 27, 2025 - The Secret Lives Of Frogs
Text and photos by Heather Cline
A frog peaks through a duckweed covered pond
Dinosaurs w...
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5 Tips for Low Key Nature & Wildlife Photography
February 20, 2025 - 5 Tips for Low Key Nature & Wildlife Photography Text and photos by Heather Cline
There's something magical about a low...
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Early bird gets the fish
February 18, 2025 - This Hooded Merganser was out with his mate hunting for breakfast on a cold morning, and I was fortunate to be able to w...
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Bird pairs for Valentines Day
February 13, 2025 - Love Is in the Air: Bird pairs for Valentines Day
Text and photos by Heather Cline
In honor of Valentine's Day, I thou...
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Hole In One?
February 11, 2025 - I'm pretty sure this gull didn't catch a golf ball mid-air, but that would be something, wouldn't it? The truth is, gull...
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A moment of light and shadow
February 04, 2025 - I see many black tail deer on my morning walks, but this one caught my eye because other than the light falling on him,...
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Nature Photography Close To Home
January 30, 2025 - What's In Your Backyard: Nature Photography Close To Home
Text and photos by Heather Cline
House Sparrow with insect...
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Antlers or Horns
January 23, 2025 - To Antler or Horn: that is the question
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Mountain Goat
There are many creatures in...
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Peekaboo
January 21, 2025 - The gull is a truly underappreciated bird. This is a ring-billed gull which is difficult to tell since he is playing pee...
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Shooting for Gray
January 09, 2025 - Gray Days: An Unlikely Friend to the Nature Photographer
Text and photos by Heather Cline
We are well into the gray da...
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2024 Photography Year In Review
December 31, 2024 - Earlier this year, I posted a blog called The number one thing you can do to improve your photography. It was about gett...
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You otter have a great holiday
December 24, 2024 - This River Otter is here to remind you to have a safe and happy holiday! If you are interested in viewing river otters,...
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Walking with Polar Bears
December 19, 2024 - The Adventure Of A Lifetime: Walking with Polar Bears
Text and photos by Heather Cline
If you think back on experience...
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Tips for photographing fog
December 12, 2024 - The Fog Blog
Text and photos by Heather Cline
If you've ever looked outside and felt a depressed by a blanket of fog,...
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Bob the cat
December 10, 2024 - This is a large male bobcat that I recently observed hunting in central California. These cats can be very difficult to...
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Location profile: Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
November 14, 2024 - Location Profile: Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Text and photos by Heather Cline
The National Wildlife Refuge sys...
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Fall color travel destinations 2024
October 17, 2024 - Fall Color 2024: Where To Go For Fall Foliage
Text and photography by Heather Cline
Fall has arrived. This is a great...
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Species Highlight: Killdeer
October 03, 2024 - Species Highlight: Killdeer
Text and photos by Heather Cline
The Killdeer is a large plover that gets its name from...
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Melanistic squirrel with walnut
October 01, 2024 - I know I've posted a lot of squirrel photos this year, but I don't often see melanistic squirrels. I happened to see thi...
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Road Trip!
September 26, 2024 - Road Trip: Photography On A Budget
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Chasm Falls
If you have been reading my blog fo...
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Small but mighty: Cute Critters
September 19, 2024 - Small but mighty: Cute Critters
Text and photos by Heather Cline
While the large animals get a lot of attention, it's...
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Yosemite High Sierra Camps
August 29, 2024 - My Experience at the Yosemite High Sierra Camps
Text and photos by Heather Cline
If you say the words, "Yosemite Natio...
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Great Egret turf battle
August 27, 2024 - It's not uncommon to see egrets feeding in the shallow water along the American River early morning but it's not often I...
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Species Highlight: Zebras
August 22, 2024 - Species Highlight: Zebras
Text and photos by Heather Cline
The zebra is a member of the ungulate (horse and donkey) fa...
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The Eyes Have It
August 15, 2024 - The Eyes Have It - Eye Contact in Wildlife Photography
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Harbor Seal Looking Through...
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Its Fawning Season!
August 13, 2024 - There is a season for everything in photography, but summertime can be downright slow for shooting wildlife. The hot tem...
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Elegant Hunter
August 06, 2024 - This Great Blue Heron was hunting fish and crawdads one morning while I crouched under a small tree, trying not to spook...
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Funny Captions
August 01, 2024 - If Wildlife Could Talk: Funny Captions
Text and photos by Heather Cline
From time to time, I like to create a post tha...
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Fish On!
July 25, 2024 - Fish On!: Wildlife that excels at fishing as an occupation
Text and photos by Heather Cline
All wildlife must be succe...
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Has anyone seen my Coppertone?
July 23, 2024 - This ground squirrel was ready to get a great summer tan one morning as I spotted it from the trail. Squirrels may stret...
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I'm ready for my close up
July 16, 2024 - This is a Juvenile Belted Kingfisher. These birds are incredibly difficult to approach. I've been watching the adult mal...
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Top 10 Wildlife Photography Tips
July 11, 2024 - Top 10 Wildlife Photography Tips
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Great-horned Owl
I can think of no better way to...
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5 Photography ideas for July
July 04, 2024 - Catch It While It's Hot: 5 Photography ideas for July
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Light painting with fire
It'...
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Red-shouldered Hawk pairs chapter 5
June 27, 2024 - Two mating pairs of Red-shouldered hawks
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter...
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Three reasons to end ranching at Point Reyes
June 20, 2024 - Our National Parks: Three reasons to end ranching at Point Reyes
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Bobcat, one of the...
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Triple threat
June 11, 2024 - These are a few members of a family of Kit Foxes that I was lucky to spot on a recent trip. These foxes inhabit semi-ari...
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Door Dash for birds
June 04, 2024 - This Crested Caracara, described as a large tropical falcon or Mexican Eagle, was flying back to it's nest of three fled...
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Border wall between Arizona and Mexico
May 28, 2024 - This is a section of the border wall constructed between the United States and Mexico, starting in 2017. It is visible f...
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Wildlife Panoramas
May 23, 2024 - Wildlife Panoramas: A Different Way of Capturing Subjects
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Sandhill Cranes Interacti...
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White-breasted Nuthatch with breakfast
May 14, 2024 - This White-breasted Nuthatch was catching insects and grubs and bringing them back to his nest one morning. These are sm...
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A chill in the air
May 07, 2024 - The air was still chilly on this spring morning when this House Wren was singing his heart out - so much so that I could...
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The nectar buffet is on!
April 30, 2024 - This Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is enjoying the buffet of wildflowers and resulting nectar that have popped up as sprin...
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Vultures: Nature's Garbage Men
April 25, 2024 - Vultures: Nature's Garbage Men
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Vultures get a bad rap. They're associated with death.
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Rock Hopper
April 23, 2024 - This young male Bighorn Sheep was on fire shortly after sunrise - running and jumping effortlessly from rock to rock on...
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Good morning handsome devil
March 05, 2024 - On the morning I took this photo, I woke up while it was dark and cold and absolutely no sun was in the morning forecast...
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Nothing but butt - when wildlife just won't cooperate
February 22, 2024 - Text and photos by Heather Cline
There are no educational moments here. No inspiration. No profound thoughts. Just a co...
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Species Highlight: Otters
February 01, 2024 - Species Highlight: Otters
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Mother sea otter with pup
Did you know there are 13 differ...
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Out for an afternoon stroll
January 30, 2024 - I spotted this guy out for an afternoon stroll while looking for bobcats in Southern California. He was most likely out...
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Balancing photography and family vacations
December 27, 2023 - Text and photos by Heather Cline
Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbird, Costa RIca
If you enjoy photography (or anythi...
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That magic light
November 08, 2023 - That Magic Light - And How it Transforms Your Photos
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Young Blacktail Buck spotlight...
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The cost of a photo
November 02, 2023 - The cost of a photo
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Purple-striped Jellyfish abstract
If you saw this photo print...
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Fall color travel destinations 2023
October 04, 2023 - Fall Color 2023: Where To Go For Fall Foliage
Text and photography by Heather Cline
Fall is officially here. This is o...
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Where's Waldo and other hidden critters
September 27, 2023 - Where's Waldo and other hidden critters
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Several years ago, I posted this same topic...
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The one that did not get away
September 20, 2023 - The one that did not get away
Text and photos by Heather Cline
You always hear about the one that got away, but what...
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Camera lenses: to zoom or prime
September 06, 2023 - Camera lenses: to zoom or prime?
Text and photos by Heather Cline
American Bison, Yellowstone National Park
Photogr...
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Tips for taking better vacation photos
December 14, 2022 - Text and photos by Heather Cline
If you are one of the lucky people who are taking a winter holiday this season, you ar...
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Seven reasons to avoid getting into nature photography
December 07, 2022 - Text and photos by Heather Cline
Evening thunderstorm, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
While nature photography...
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Using your vehicle as a photography blind
November 16, 2022 - Using your vehicle as a photography blind
Text and photos by Heather Cline
American Widgeon (male), Sacramento Natio...
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Mini Maui travel and photo guide
October 12, 2022 - The island of Maui is beautiful. Between the scenic beaches, waterfalls, plant, and wildlife, it is a photographer's del...
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Nature Photography: What to shoot in October
September 28, 2022 - Nature Photography: What to shoot in October
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Bull Moose among Autumn color, Teton N...
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How to create depth in your photos
September 14, 2022 - 9 Techniques For Creating Depth In Your Nature Photographs
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Zebra and Wildebeests, S...
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Using vignetting to enhance nature photos
August 24, 2022 - Using vignetting to enhance nature photos
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Small unnamed waterfall, South Yuba River...
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Avoiding the photography equipment trap
August 03, 2022 - Avoiding the Photography Equipment Trap Text and photos by Heather Cline
Dead Horse Point State Park
If you are new...
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Species Highlight: American Alligator
July 06, 2022 - Species Highlight: American Alligator
Text and photos by Heather Cline
The American alligator is the largest reptile i...
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Perfect pairs in nature
June 29, 2022 - Twice as Nice: Perfect Pairs In Nature
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Sometimes when I am out taking photos, I fee...
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Five creative processes in Photoshop
June 01, 2022 - Wake Up Your Right Brain: Five Creative Processes in Photoshop
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Photoshop is a powerfu...
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Nature Photography as Home Decor
May 25, 2022 - Bring Nature In: How To Incorporate Nature Photography Into Your Home Design
Text and photos by Heather Cline
If you...
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The power of pastels
May 18, 2022 - Color Palettes: The Power of Pastels Text and photos by Heather Cline
Bowling Ball Beach on a cloudy morning
Introdu...
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Temporary themes in nature
May 11, 2022 - Capturing the moment: Temporary Themes in Nature
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Moose at local pond, Flaming Gorge...
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Species highlight: Black-tailed Deer
April 27, 2022 - Species Highlight: Black-tailed deer
Text and photos by Heather Cline
There are 43 species of deer on Earth, with th...
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Top Tips for Zoo Photography
April 13, 2022 - Top Tips for Zoo Photography
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Mountain Lion, Folsom Zoo Sanctuary
Zoos, aquariums,...
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Location profile: Anza Borrego
April 06, 2022 - Location profile: Anza Borrego State Park
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Agave, Anza Borrego State Park
Anza Borr...
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Bold Black and White
March 16, 2022 - Bold Black and White: How to create dynamic black and white photos
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Twisted Tree, De...
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Species Highlight: African Elephant
March 09, 2022 - Species Highlight: African Elephant
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Introduction
I have been fortunate to have two...
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Species highlight: Sandhill Crane
January 10, 2022 - Species Highlight: Sandhill Crane
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Introduction
Every fall, I visit national wildli...
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Species highlight: Pronghorn
November 01, 2021 - Species Highlight: Pronghorn
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Most people who know me or have seen my work know that...
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Location Profile: Lassen National Park
October 25, 2021 - Location Profile: Lassen National Park Text and photos by Heather Cline
Lassen Volcanic National Park features steaming...
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Fall Color Photography Tips
October 18, 2021 - Catching Fall: Tips for capturing your best autumn photos
Text and photos by Heather Cline
North Lake, Sierras
Fall...
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Texture in nature photography
June 28, 2021 - Scratching the surface: Texture in Nature Photography
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Tafoni, California Coastline...
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Location profile: Death Valley
June 21, 2021 - Death Valley National Park has become one of my favorite national parks over the past 15 years. I remember the first tim...
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When life gives you lemons
June 14, 2021 - When life gives you lemons... take a picture!
This post is a continuation of my series on color, and you guessed it, th...
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California wildflowers 2022
March 15, 2021 - Wildflower season has arrived!
We received a decent amount of rainfall in December; not enough for a super bloom, but w...
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Shooting in bad weather, part 3
February 22, 2021 - A couple years ago, I was in Washington DC for a conference and thought it would be great to get some sunset photos at t...
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Shooting in bad weather, part 2
February 15, 2021 - Weather conditions that are ideal for one subject might not be for another. For example, bright sunny days might be good...
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Yosemite grand tour
January 18, 2021 - "Y" is for Yosemite
If you have never been to Yosemite, or are just looking for when and where to go for the best photo...
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Americas National Parks
November 02, 2020 - "N" is for National Parks. For me - there was no other choice for "N".
I love National Parks and have a goal of visitin...
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Hiking and Nature Photography
September 21, 2020 - "H" is for Hiking!
It pays to enjoy hiking if you are a nature photographer because your feet will get you to a lot mor...
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Guess where
September 14, 2020 - "G" is for guessing games. Can you guess where these photos were taken?
There are 3 photos from each location. Some are...
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The value of compression in photography
August 17, 2020 - "C "is for compression.
You thought I was going to say composition, didn't you? I actually wrote an article covering 19...
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Black and White Photography
August 10, 2020 - If you read my last post, you'll understand the next sentence. "B" is for Black and White.
When I started in the wonder...
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Abstract photography
August 03, 2020 - It's been over a year since my last post - a rough year. Several things have contributed to it but mostly losing my cats...
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Simplify - the value of simplicity in photography
February 26, 2019 - The pursuit of most nature photographers is to convey a message or an emotion using composition, light, colors, subject...
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Background check
August 04, 2018 - Taking a great picture requires more than just pointing and shooting. You have to think about composition, lighting, exp...
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Top 12 hot spots for California wildflowers
April 02, 2018 - It's that time of year again: Wildflower season!
Here are a dozen great places to hunt for wildflowers in Northern Cali...
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How to: Coastal photography
March 21, 2018 - Despite my propensity to submerge precious camera gear in water, I love shooting on the coast. There is just something a...
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Using fill flash to improve your photographs
November 03, 2017 - Using a flash can improve your images but it is important to know when, why, and how to use them.
Most consumer cameras...
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Images from the American River Parkway
October 08, 2017 - In the the heart of Sacramento County is a recreational gem called the American River Parkway (AKA: Jedediah Smith Memor...
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Double exposures
September 03, 2017 - I have been playing with double (and multiple) exposures lately and thought it would be fun to share a few. There are so...
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Northern California Wildflowers 2017
May 09, 2017 - The Southern California desert wildflower displays are dominating the internet these days but we have plenty of impressi...
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10 Great Nature Escapes
June 14, 2016 - Looking for an easy day trip and a quick nature fix? Here's 10 places you can get to from the Sacramento area and still...
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Where the wildflowers are - Top 10 locations for California wildflowers in 2016
February 24, 2016 - It's wildflower season! Our great state of California has a diverse landscape that contributes to a wide variety of wild...
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