The Best
of 2025
2025 was a thrilling year, although one with less travel than usual. Enjoy the stories and photos below of my year in the wild!
Owls are always a favorite subject of photographers. From their recognizable faces to their striking gaze, they are as elusive as they are sought after. This Great Horned Owl perched directly above a path in Van Cortlandt Park, waking up and showing off its eyes as the sun set.JAnuary
“ Who are you?
Double-crested Cormorants are aquatic birds-- diving underwater even in the frigid cold of winter to snag fish. But that doesn't mean they enjoy the rain, or at least that's the impression I got from their facial expressions. This group shared an elevated log on Hester and Piero's Mill Pond, creating an interesting shape as they waited out the weather. “Mount Cormorant”
fEBRUARY
My best photo of the year has a long story attached to it. Coyotes aren't rare animals by any stretch-- but this photo was the result of months of research and careful planning. Hopefully I get to tell the story of this moment in the future, but for now, its enough to enjoy the fruits of hard labor. MARCH
“Wolves of Broadway”
Owls and their nests are closely guarded secrets-- and not without reason. Several nests have been abandoned in New York City, potentially due to over-visitation by eager birders. This nest sat abandoned for nearly 3 years, before finally seeing two owlets fledge from it this spring. Great Horned Owls require habitat with old growth to thrive-- a reminder than conservation must have an all-encompassing approachApril
“Growing up Great Horned”
Rattlesnakes are all too common in the San Fernando Valley, but the citizens there live alongside them just fine. It took me longer than I care to admit to have an encounter with a Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, but I finally managed to find one, even though I was finally visiting in the right seasonLook close-- you can see my reflection lifting up the corrugated metal sheet where this fine specimen was hiding. MAY
“Shake, Rattle, and Roll.”
If you watched the first episode of Wild New York, you know my search for the Flying Squirrels of NYC ended in failure. 5 years later, I encountered these 2 in broad daylight, searching for a cool breeze in the midst of a summer heatwave. Lightening finally struck-- twice. In wildlife photography, its often better to be lucky than good. But as my dad always says, luck is at the intersection of preparation and opportunity. JUne
“Ghosts In the Daylight.”
“More than you can chew”
Late in the Summer, I had a production company that works with Netflix reach out to me about collaborating on telling the story of NYC's wildlife. It was the second time it's happened this year-- and the second professional collab that ended in failure. If only I was a chipmunk-- who's cheeks can expand 3x their normal size. I'm glad I've still got noticeable room to grow and improve. JuLY
The first time I went out to shoot hummingbirds, I had a manual focus lens and a dream. Over the years I've improved my gear, but I still don't think I've topped my first Hummingbird shot in terms of composition. Growth requires patience, as does Hummingbird Migration. "Freezing the wings" is one of the trademarks of a good Hummer shot, and this one is "almost".AUGUST
“Humming Along”
Wildlife seldom have long lifespans--captive animals can add as much as 50% to their longevity. But every so often, you encounter something that has been around a long time, as evidenced by the size of this garter snake. At nearly 4 feet long, i's almost certainly been around Van Cortlandt Park longer than me. I wonder what beasts like this would tell us if they could speak. September
“One of the Old gods”
I've never been one for astral photography-- it requires a lot of technique that don't have. But the moon makes for an easy enough subject, especially when it sneaks out during the day. The waning crescent recalls the cyclical patterns of nature, reminding me that there are knowable things about our world, and we can understand them if we're curious. October
“Blue Moon”
“Never Forget Your First”
NOVember
I've already talked about the gate-keeping of owls in the birding community, but as an educator first, I have to admit there are few things as wonderful as showing someone their first owl. My first wild owl was also a Barred, found with help. This discovery is the result of the years of training and practice since then, but the payoff isn't merely about the encounter-- its about what the encounter can teach you about yourself.
Every time I'm fortunate enough to visit the Florida Everglades, I'm awestruck that this kind of ecosystem exists in the modern United States. Giant Reptiles sunning themselves, massive mammals prowling the wilds, and birds of every shape and size in abundance. There's still magic in this world-- but we've got to fight to preserve it from the ever-encroaching grasp of capitalism. DEcember