The Cool Side of Sunset Science
October 07, 2025
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Sunsets appear colorful because of how sunlight interacts with Earth’s atmosphere. As the sun lowers, its light travels through more air, scattering shorter wavelengths like blue and violet. On most days, these colors scatter out of view, leaving reds and oranges behind. But when the air is especially clear or contains fine particles like water vap...
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Fall color travel destinations 2025
October 02, 2025
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Fall Color 2025: Where To Go For Fall Foliage
Text and photography by Heather Cline
Autumn is here, ushering in crisp air, migrating wildlife, and a spectacular display of seasonal color. Across the landscape, leaves are shifting from summer greens to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red—offering photographers and nature lovers alike a fle...
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Morning catch
September 30, 2025
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I spend a lot of mornings with a snowy egret along the American River. This bird hunts for fish and crawdads near the shore and is always active and entertaining to watch. Most of the time, it uses its long legs to stir up prey in the shallows. But when something catches its eye, it’ll suddenly dart forward—and it usually catches what it’s after. I...
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Wildlife Speed Shifts
September 25, 2025
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Speed Shifts: 5 Species That Move Differently by Land, Water, or Air
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Nature doesn’t play by human rules. Some animals are built for speed—but only in the right environment. In this post, we’ll explore five fascinating species whose movement defies expectations. Whether gliding through water or sprinting across lan...
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First Signs of Fall at Silver Lake
September 24, 2025
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Autumn is here, and the Eastern Sierra is the go-to spot for leaf peepers and photographers chasing fall color. Silver Lake, tucked into the heart of the June Lake Loop at 7,200 feet, starts turning earlier than lower elevations—making it a great option if you're eager to get out and catch the season’s first golden hues. This alpine lake, surrounde...
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Egretfully Yours
September 18, 2025
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Egretfully Yours: A Photographer’s Take on Three Iconic Species
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Great Egret hunting at sunset in a coastal lagoon
Egrets are among the most graceful and photogenic birds found in wetlands, grasslands, and coastal habitats across the globe. With their striking white plumage and elegant movements, they often st...
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Farewell to Summer
September 11, 2025
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Farewell to Summer: A Focus on the Elements
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Summer landscapes offer a wide range of visual opportunities shaped by the elements. Fire, water, earth, and air each bring distinct characteristics to the season—from glowing sunsets and active waterways to sculpted terrain and shifting skies. This post explores how...
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Fiery Sunset
September 09, 2025
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There’s nothing better than a fiery sunset—especially in a place like Valley of Fire State Park. As this day faded, the sandstone lit up in deep reds and golds, echoing the sky above in a blaze of color. The heat of the day dissipated as a storm rolled in, making this the perfect end to a great day in the park!
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Wildlife of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
September 04, 2025
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Fur, Scales, and Feathers: A Wildlife Journey Through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is an ecologically rich desert landscape located in southern Arizona along the U.S.–Mexico border. It sits within the Sonoran Desert, featuring mountain ranges and flat desert basins formed...
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Morning steam
September 02, 2025
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One morning in Yellowstone, I was photographing the sunrise over Lake Yellowstone when I noticed a few shorebirds starting their day. As they moved along the water’s edge, foraging for food, one Killdeer caught my eye. It paused beside a steaming lakeside geyser, standing still as if soaking in the warmth. Killdeer are common birds—easy to overlook...
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The Art of Wildlife Parenting
August 28, 2025
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The Art of Wildlife Parenting: A Practical Look at Survival and Strategy
Text and photos by Heather Cline
A Brown Bear sow leads her cubs on a safe path along the river
In nature, parenting is a survival strategy. Each species has developed its own approach to raising young, shaped by habitat, threats, and evolutionary pressures. These behav...
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What do you see?
August 26, 2025
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Yellowstone National Park is often called the Serengeti of North America—and for good reason. Wildlife is everywhere: bears, wolves, elk, bison, and more. But on this trip, I made a point to focus on the landscapes. One evening, after a thunderstorm rolled through, I stopped to photograph a sweeping panorama of a horseshoe bend glowing in the sunse...
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The Wonderful World of Woodpeckers
August 21, 2025
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The Wonderful World of Woodpeckers: Ten Species to Spotlight
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Bearded Woodpecker, Tanzania
Woodpeckers are easy to recognize by the tapping sounds they make as they drill into trees. They do this to find food, mark their territory, or build nests. These birds aren’t just noisy—they help control insect population...
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Check out my shoulder pads
August 19, 2025
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I've seen my fair share of songbirds over the years, but this red-winged blackbird perched on a twig, wings fanned wide to reveal its vivid red shoulder patches was a fun and surprising capture. These birds are a familiar sight in wetlands and open fields, but that flash of color never gets old. The males use these bright markings to defend territo...
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Lens on Longevity: Documenting the Saguaro’s Story
August 14, 2025
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Text and photos by Heather Cline
The saguaro cactus is one of the most recognizable plants in the Sonoran Desert. It starts life as a small seed and can grow into a large cactus that lives for over 150 years. Saguaros provide food and shelter for many desert animals, including birds, bats, and insects. Even after they die, their remains continue...
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