Preening
In an unusual move to keep his wings clean, Preening presents a special look at the contortionist motion of a Common Egret. Carefully sited in a mangrove, the egret spreads his wing to carefully maintain his flight feathers.
“This was such fun to capture this odd neck bending routine by this egret. Perseverance from a vantage point near the river allowed me to wait for the perfect shot,” Brett recalls.
Limited Edition: 100
Summer Home
The Austral Pygmy Owl is secure in his Summer Home. Edging ever closer, Brett is able to engage the owl in his natural habitat in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Native to the temperate forests of Chile and Argentina, the little Austral leads a secretive life.
“I couldn’t believe my good fortune as I closed in for my shot,” Brett recalls. “Those piercing yellow eyes and bright yellow beak stood out against the camouflaging colors of his feathers.”
Limited Edition: 100
Spring Hunt
Silently stalking his prey, this Common Egret is on the prowl for a tasty meal. Striking distance must be close, but quiet. Each move must not disturb the opportunity to capture a small chameleon for lunch.
“Filming birds in their native habitat presents many challenges,” Brett relates. “You have to be close enough, and quick enough to capture the shot without causing the bird to take flight. Being a quiet as the Egret requires much patience.”
Limited Edition: 100
Flight
After a chaotic retreat from an Atlantic beach to the safety of the sky, these ring-beak gulls slowly begin to fall into the familiar flying “V” that sustains their flight. Vying for the lead, the gulls jockey for position in the warm blue of a summer afternoon.
“After a ground swell of gulls took flight, I kept my camera trained on a few of the potential leaders as they worked their way to the front of the formation,” Brett recalls. “After moments of disarray the gulls were very deliberate in falling into their lines in the sky.”
Limited Edition: 100
Early to Rise
Early to Rise presents an ethereal look at an Ibis silently gliding in for a landing in a quiet marsh. This noiseless morning was the perfect time for him to wade in the shallows of early dawn.
“The morning was still, almost surreal in its calm,” Brett recalls. “I had carefully waded into the edge of the marsh when this lonely Ibis came flying in on a gentle wisp of morning air. I quickly clicked off several shots as he maneuvered in for a soft landing and was lucky enough to capture this most Zen-like portrait of a bird in flight.”
Limited Edition: 100
Traffic Jam
A swirl of ring-beak gulls rises en masse from an Atlantic beach in Traffic Jam. The frantic ascent seems disorganized in the face of the gull’s normal flying “V”, giving rise to noisy disarray.
“It was chaotic fun to be immersed in their take-off flight,” Brett recollects. “The disharmonious chatter of fleeing gulls was deafening. I was glad that my camera was ready as they were lifting off.”
Limited Edition: 100
Last Meal of Winter
As many of Yellowstone’s animal inhabitants hibernate for the winter, the American Bison struggles to survive the harshest season in one of the coldest places on earth. Food is scarce and the grazing is limited. The buffalo venture near the sulfur hot springs for warmth – but there is extreme danger in doing so. Venture too closely and they can be overcome by the toxic gases. It’s a risk they’ll have to take if they want to survive the Last Meal of Winter.
“On an unbelievable solo journey by snowmobile during one of Yellowstone’s last years of allowing such access to the park, I was privileged to follow this herd of buffalo on their dangerous quest to stay alive,” Brett recalls. “To me, this scene evokes the vulnerability of Life in the wild.”
