Base Camp from the air.

Last month I had the rare opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine; to photograph a large variety of the wildlife of Botswana. Not, as is customarily the case, in my studio, but to embark on a 14 day adventure to the center of South Africa.

Joined by my wife and 2 daughters, we criss-crossed the country of 220,000 sq miles, roughly half of which is protected as a national park. As we explored the magnificent terrain, it was apparent both the government officials and the local citizenry were committed to protecting this extraordinary natural habitat.

Wildlife photography is all about observing, planning, and then waiting. Anticipating the location of the sun, the habits of the wildlife, and the vagaries of the weather are only slightly different than dealing with clients, handlers, and deadlines back home. But, as is always the case, patience eventually pays off!

I won’t be trading my Chicago studio for a Range Rover anytime soon, but I do look forward to more opportunities to stretch my boundries and stir my creative juices visiting some of the most pristine ecosystems on our planet.

I often feel like I’ve got the best job in the world.

During a recent shoot for a European pharmaceutical company we brought six beautiful, female Asian elephants to my Chicago studio. Among all the animals with which I’ve had the privilege to work, I think the elephant is my favorite. Despite their large size, these beauties could not have been gentler. As I shot each one, we kept a second elephant nearby to help make the subject more comfortable. As the handler put it, “Wouldn’t you feel more relaxed in a strange environment if you had a friend with you?” The “friend” hung out behind the camera, sniffing me from head to toe with her trunk as I worked, sometimes unwittingly adjusting my camera angle along the way. Perhaps she had her own idea of the perfect shot she wanted to share with me!

This is one of my favorite photos from the shoot, but I also love the behind the scenes shots that we captured. Click this link for more elephant photos from that great afternoon.

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