Rockhopper penguin with chicks By making a low and slow approach I was able to make this up close intimate mage. The wide angle lens afforded me a unique perspective.

King Penguin, Volunteer Point, East Falkland Getting low allowed me to isolate the trumpeting penguin against the dark earth background.

The arctic region in winter is unforgiving. While conditions for humans at -30F can prove devastating the bears are totally comfortable. Being on the ground with these formidable predators is an experience like no other.

Brown bear slamming salmon in a remote fly-in creek, AK

Polar bears sparring at first light. -30F and worth the frostbite on my nose.

Brown bear in the whirlpool at Brook's Falls. 1DX, 1/40 @ f/16., ISO 200. Spot metered off water highlight plus 2EV. Exposure verified via RGB histogram. Nik Color Effex 4 Tonal Contrast filter was instrumental in extracting the water detail.

Pushing your equipment and technique can often lead to capturing an image otherwise unobtainable. This image of a red fox persevering into a strong headwind was taken at dusk in fading light. Lowering the equipment provided a more intimate view into the fox life, as well as helping negate the fierce wind shaking the lens. I left the blue/cyan cast in the snow to better communicate the cold -26F environmental conditions. See you where there is light, or at the computer, Chas

King penguin image taken at twilight. Saunders Is, Falklands

Arctic fox portrait taken up close and personal, Hudson Bay, Manitoba

I photographed this group of King Penguins in the Falklands exiting the surf in a sandstorm with every lens at my disposal. This image taken with a 70-200 is among my favorite from the encounter. Every once in a while it all comes together. Those with me headed higher up the beach to avoid ruining their camera equipment from blowing sand.

Taken in Yellowstone -30F in blizzard conditions. Inclement weather can often produces the most dramatic and visually arresting images. I greatly look forward to returning to YNP every winter.

This image was taken in Japan last year with a 24-70. Placing the camera at eye level afforded an intimate view. I believe eye contact is especially important, connecting the viewer with the subject. The use of a wide-angle allowed me to both emphasis the subject and its environment, with the subject being rendered sharp and the background ethereal yet descriptive. We were very fortunate to have left Japan one day prior to the devastating tsunami. I am looking forward to returning next Jan.

Harp seals are right up their with whales, being among the most controversial animal rights topics. I wanted to photograph the harp seals for conservation reasons, as well as document this incredibly beautiful animal in its natural environment. The seals are located on the Magdalen Islands, a small archipelago located in the gulf of the St. Lawrence, Quebec. Getting there is no easy task, requiring multiple plane flights and finally a helicopter ride to/from the ice floe where the seal breeding grounds are located. The weather can change quickly delaying or canceling the chopper flights. Falling through the ice is a fairly common occurrence, and one must be careful of snow covered breathing holes. A long stick is used to probe for holes, and weak sections of ice. My hope is that this newborn pup still wet with amnionic fluid will help to serve as an ambassador for the species.

I took this puffin image in Iceland, a magical place for both birds and landscapes. A 600mm with1.4 x, were used to help blur and isolate the subject against the background. Additionally, an extension tube was used to better the minimum focus distance.

Bears are without doubt my favorite species to photograph. This image was taken in Churchill.

Black bear boar scent marking tree

Common loon eating crayfish. I have been photographing two pairs of loons with chicks for the past 7 years now. I have them eating duck chicks, bass, bream, mud puppies, and more. Behavior includes courtship, mating, nesting, etc. This is truly one of the best workshops I host every June.

Bald eagle in wildflowers. This image was taken while photographing brown bears in Katmai, AK. The adult was close to young fledging birds on a very small bay island. By Increasing the ISO (800) I was able to use a faster shutter speed. Handheld 600mm off the back of the boat.

AK brown bear charging into pool of salmon. Fortunately, this bear was inept at fishing, giving me multiple opportunities to create this image. After a few misses I got the bears MO and proceeded to position myself accordingly for this image, low and vertical. This image was the cover of Popular Photography March, 2010

Brown bears sparring in water. This image was taken in Kukak bay, AK. Having hosted over 50 black, brown and polar bear workshops to date, I can say without a doubt bears are my favorite species to photograph.

Red fox trotting in snow. Taken in Yellowstone this past winter, with a1D Mark IV, 600mm, Spot metered off snow plus 2.3EV

Bald eagles chasing after a dropped fish, AK.

Leopard near impala kill. Savuti, Botswana

Brown bear searching for salmon in river. I have photographed brown bears throughout AK. The background can make all the difference in the success of an image, and it is the main reason I change locations from year to year.

Bald Eagle in flight

Spirit bear, BC

Photographing polar bears and arctic wildlife from ground level is amazing. I cannot wait to return again next year with a group.

Coastal brown bears fighting over fishing territory

Snowy owl at sunrise during an incursion year.

Black wolf in snow.

Snow leopard (captive)

Arctic fox are on the move here on the Hudson bay coast.

Polar bear looking directly into camera at ground level

Gentoo penguins at sunset with starburst

Malachite kingfisher at dusk, Chobe River, Botswana

Common loon portrait in breeding plumage riding on silky green water

Bison head on in snow, Yellowstone National Park, USA

Gentoo penguin exiting surf, Sea Lion Is, Falklands.

Bison head covered in snow, Swan Flats, Yellowstone National Park, minus 32F waist deep snow.

Leopard at dusk Moremi, Botswana

Polar bear steeping out of muddy lake water onto snow.

Elk in snowscape, Jasper, Canada Happy Holidays to All!

Arctic Hare in snow, Churchill, Canada

Mountain Lion at sunrise, captive

Snow monkeys, Japan

Bosque del Apache, NM.

Brown bear waiting along river bank for salmon, AK

Snowy owl with wild cottontail rabbit in talons. I spent almost 200 hours photographing a number of snowy owls during the winter of 2004. This one learned to hunt wild rabbits in the dunes of Fire Is, NY seashore, and would allow close approach if I belly crawled and took my time (often 2 hrs). It was a winter I and many others will never forget.

Elephant seal, Carcass Island, Falklands

Humpback whale lunge feeding, BC

Cheetah at sunrise, Botswana

Baby Baboon

Bald Eagle screaming, AK

Arctic fox, Hudson bay, Canada

Polar bears playing on ice, Hudson bay, Canada

Wolves howling in snowstorm, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone NP

Great blue heron with chick on nest at first light, FL

Snow monkey nursing baby, Japan

King penguins, Falkland Islands The Falkland's remain one of my favorite places on earth. I am heading back to the Falklands with another group Dec, 2012 for my 6th visit.

Red Fox mousing, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming, USA

Bison in snowstorm, Yellowstone NP. Thought I would share a bit of how to expose correctly in snow. This image taken a few days ago during the Winter Yellowstone Workshop. The next session starts tomorrow. Spot meter the snow highlight adding plus 2 to 2.7EV depending on scene contrast. Sunny days plus 2, heavy overcast 2.7. Push the highlights just shy of RGB clipping, as this will move the whole image histogram to the right, making the blacks in effect brighter, not darker. Thereafter, select only the highlights and use post-production techniques to render all the highlight detail you desire. Shooting in this manner noise is almost never an issue. Note… some Nikon bodies require less of an exposure increase, typically .7 stops less than above. Best to test your gear, once you get the exposure nailed down it is repeatable. Manual focus in falling snow is highly recommended. Best, Chas

Young male lion, Kenya Color image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Effex Pro

Coyote pouncing, Yellowstone NP

Bobcat stretching, Yellowtsone National Park

Bighorn Sheep coming down cliff face, Yellowstone NP

Snow monkey with baby in hot spring. Taken a few days ago in Japan.

Two bears wrestling in a pristine snow drift check us out. It appears the bottom bear was smiling for the cameras...lol You cannot tell from the image but it was -30F at the time this was taken, brrrrr.

This image was taken just before sunset on the shore of Hudson Bay approx 30k north of Churchill.

It is unusual to find a male and female engaged in sparring and play. This image shows a bit of posturing, a prelude to sparring. The new snow a top the ice made for a very clean background.

Brown bear running toward salmon, AK

Brown bears fighting over salmon, AK

Brown bears fighting, AK

Common loon