Clients Images ~ Creativity Workshop in Charleston

November 18, 2025

The above image was created at Magnolia Plantation by Jeri Mearns. Jeri lives in Kiawah and she is my new neighbor! Her eye for creative compositions was spot on. I appreciated her processing skills and use of natural light. BTW, the images are listed in order that I received them. Not everyone shared….

The image above was created by photographer Luc Schoonjans. Luc used Photoshop filters to create a unique look for this otherwise drab toned headstone. The assignment was to create something different and I think he did just that!

The above image was captured by Laurie Morgan. Laurie used her iPhone exclusively and she was an absolute inspiration. This in-phone multiple exposure of one of the bridges at Magnolia Gardens wowed us all!

The above image was created by Rachel Rosenthal. I really liked the way she composed this and the bokeh in the background.

Last but not least, is Matt Newman’s image of a tombstone. I liked his unusual perspective and the conversion he did in post processing.

Overall, it was a ton of fun and everyone shared some nice photos—but more importantly they stretched their photography wings!

I love this little garden. I used an infrared camera and in post processing I converted it to B&W. I used the remove tool to get rid of a building in the background—surprisingly it worked great.

Charleston Trip Report

November 8, 2025

My “Recharging Your Creativity” workshop was a great success and also lot of fun. I had a terrific group of photographers that were willing to experiment and try new techniques in an effort to expand their personal growth.

In addition to my Photoshop lessons and demos everyone was willing to work together and share ideas and resources. That’s what I love about these type of workshops; the sharing that goes on between likeminded photographers. It’s easy to create in a space where collaboration and experimentation is undefined.

We visited some of Charleston’s favorite low country photo spots. In a town like Charleston it’s impossible not to see a photo everywhere you go. I gave photo assignments and themes throughout our time together. So many creative images were captured. I tried to select one from each participant to share. I will be sharing those in an upcoming post once I collect them from everyone.

The group worked on creative blurs, B&W, composites, abstracts, multiple exposures both in-camera and in post processing, etc… Again, it was lots of fun. I can’t wait to announce next years trip! Below are a couple of my images that I processed from the trip. But just a few because I want my clients images to reflect our time together—so stay tuned for those.

I created a softness with both a bright exposure and an applied filter (peachy look) to add some softness and color toning.

The wind and Spanish moss helped to create the softness for this Camellia image. In post processing, I added a bit more softening.

I used an infrared converted camera to create this look for this shot.

This is a composite of 3 images. One soft, one sharp and one leafy image to create the look.

Mara-Samburu Trip Report

October 22, 2025

The beginning of our safari was in the Masai Mara. Of course, we used our same Maasai drivers and had some really special sightings.

During our time in the Mara, we had the great pleasure of an up-close encounter with “Olopono,” one of the large male leopards. He was hidden behind a bush, as we drove around the bush, we were able to capture both a tight head shot and a shot of him slipping into the bush. I captured one shot that I liked and processed it in a dark manner. I know some people would like the image lighter, but I liked the idea of him being elusive and wanted my image to reflect that.

We also spotted a cheetah searching for food, but she never quite made the effort to hunt. She seemed preoccupied with something lurking behind her. We searched but saw nothing. We only had a couple of cheetah sightings in the Mara. This was the year of the lions!

On our very first full day we had two of the Fig Tree pride female lions on a hunt for some pumba (aka warthogs) piglets. We noticed the warthog family of four (2 babies with adults) up the hill from the lionesses. The adult pumba led the piglets down the hill straight toward the lions. Oh no! The one lion gave a short chase that ended directly in front of us. The other lioness never even joined in on the chase. Sadly, after that piglet was captured, the other piglet, (still hidden in the grass) let out a squeal and started to run, the lioness dropped the one piglet then quickly captured the other piglet; she ate them both without sharing a morsel.

Fig Tree lioness with warthog, going after second one.

We also spent time photographing the Rekero pride with three male lions. One of the males had an injured eye and years of battle scars. He walked slowly as if he were in a great deal of pain —but didn’t want anyone to know. In that pride, there was a lioness with a single cub; apparently, she had lost her other two cubs due to carelessness. I was able to get a soft backlit image of the mother with her cub.

Some of our sightings included: watching a pair of ostrich mating in the rain, a giraffe shaking off oxpeckers at last light, topi’s head butting, mongooses on a termite hill, buffalo roaming and hyena pups playing near their den.

We also photographed five other jackal pups being fed by not only both adults but one older sibling that was on hand to help mom feed her pups. It was interesting to learn that fully grown jackals from a previous litter often help feed the next gen. Again, the Mara delivers!

In Samburu, our first game drive started off a bit slower than usual. But soon one of our guides spotted a leopard up a tree, everyone in the vehicle got a shot of it coming down the tree before it ran off to hide in the brush. We were told before getting to Samburu that a cheetah mom with three cubs had been spotted recently. So, we spent some time looking for that family…

Next, we got a call that a leopard with two young cubs was seen up a tree. But by the time we got there, we only got a glimpse of the momma and her cubs. It turns out that it was the same female leopard with cubs that I had photographed in June. It was nice to see that the cubs have not only survived but are getting bigger and stronger.

We also managed to find the female cheetah with three young cubs. They were absolutely adorable. Slender, yet leggy and all three had full bellies. Momma was tall and thin, and looked ready for a meal. She was still nursing the cubs which were between 3-4 months old. We watched her at last light walk her cubs to a safe location then we picked them up again in the morning where we watched as she tried —but failed to capture a Gerenuk after a very short chase.

This cheetah cub was very rambunctious, we all guessed he was the male as he chased birds, rabbits and anything else he spotted.

Other sightings included a pair of Beisa oryx head butting in the dusty sand for some nice backlit images, Grévy's zebra, a Secretarybird with a mouse, a Bateleur eagle fluffing its feathers, several Lilac-breasted rollers, a Kori Bustard displaying and lots, lots more. Plus, the never-ending supply of baboons and Vervet monkeys with little babies.

Overall, we ended up having some really nice photo opportunities and a great time in Samburu. You just never know what you’ll see or get to photograph. I think it’s the “not knowing” what will unfold during a safari that keeps me engaged and wanting more.

That concludes my 35 days in Kenya with three separate groups. And, as much as I have loved every minute of being on safari, I’m ready to go home and see my family.

Mara/Amboseli-Second Group Trip Report

October 10, 2025

Our 2nd group started in Amboseli. On our first photo outing we went to the dry lakebed to photograph elephants walking in formation as we did with our first group. Our afternoon photo shoot was with the big tusker Craig. We had multiple opportunities to capture close-up shots of him walking straight towards us.

Our second morning started out similarly with another visit to the dry lakebed followed by an elephant crossing with one huge or should I say “tiny” exception. We watched as a baby ellie struggled to make it to shore. It yelped and some of the older elephants came to its side to assist.

In the afternoon we saw four young cheetahs still with mom trying to hunt but to no avail. The cheetahs in Amboseli are thinner than in the Mara. Our guide said it was because of limited food. Also, as young cubs they don’t have as many predators, so usually large litters survive better than in the Mara. On my last visit to Amboseli in June, we saw five cheetah cubs that were still with mom.

That afternoon we watched as an almost orphaned young elephant was falling over himself on the road and then was whaling in the muddy swamp as mom went about her business stuffing her face as the baby ellie struggled for every breath. It was difficult to watch him soaked to the core begging mom for some comfort and milk as she ignored him repeatedly. So sad… he’s a boy and will probably grow up to be a strong bull if he can survive his mother and his youth!

Our last morning in Amboseli before heading to the Mara was more of a potluck safari as we drove around just looking for whatever we rolled up on. In addition to the usual suspects, we did see a Kori Bustard displaying. His neck feathers were hugely fluffed, and he gave a knocking sound and lifted his tail feathers to his back.

Our first afternoon in the Mara was good. We had two different sightings of a cheetah, and we saw several lions. We almost saw two separate hunting chases, but both fizzled out. Still the anticipation and build up was exciting. The evening ended with lightning and a heavy downpour. We photographed some Topis in the rain until we had our ISO’s at about 50,000!!

Our next morning started off slow with just a single cheetah sighting and some lion cubs <wink> but the afternoon picked up with an epic sighting of a leopard (named Faulu) that not only climbed a tree to reunite with her two different kills (gazelle and a jackal). But word on the savannah is that the jackal tried to get too close to the freshly killed gazelle, so the leopard caught it and carried up the tree too. The poor jackal’s mate combed the area looking for him not having a clue it was just up the tree.

Our next day started off with Faulu the leopard coming down the tree, at least we thought it was her. Turns out another female leopard claimed her tree and her two stashed meals. The morning ended with a ferocious fight between two cheetahs—Milele and Olonyok (the last remaining cheetah of the famous Tania Bora (Swahili for magnificent five) coalition. It ended in a stand-off. But not before a couple of brutal battles between the two. They fought over territory and dominance. It was sad to see how old Olonyok looked. He was as brave in battle as he was on a hunt. But still, he lost some strength, and it showed. Barry Barfield captured an excellent video of the entire fight. I hope to share it soon.

Later, after a short rest we photographed some more of the Topi pride cubs. They found a dead (probably died of old age) buffalo, the cubs were walking headfirst into the back end of the beast. With bloody faces they sure were cute. I’m glad they were able to feast, and the meat did not go to the hyenas. After our fill of blood and guts we went back to check on the cheetahs, but nothing was happening, so we drove off. I hope to check on them again!

This all happened by day three. Action-packed does not come close to describing the safari. Once again, the Mara delivers… Below are some more of our sightings from the trip. It is hard to say which of the two Mara/Amboseli groups had more photo opportunities since the first group had better sunrise and sunset light and better dry lake bed photo opps, but the second group had lots of unique sightings. Can we say cheetah fight!! I have lots more to share but need to get some rest before my next group!

Baby zebra tries to stand up on its own.

Two jackals have a tug of war over a rabbit kill. They each got one half in the end.

Carrying the head of the rabbit to the den.

Two images below from my day trip to Nairobi NP.

Mara/Amboseli Group 1 ~ Trip Report

September 28, 2025

We just finished up with our first group on our Mara/Amboseli safari. It was a private adventure with the Marin Photography Club out of California. Several of the members have travelled with me before so it was a mix of old and new friends. I will miss them all as we really did have a lot of fun together.

For the Mara portion, I don’t even know where to start- we had so many great sightings. And I have to say it again, the Mara delivers, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist <wink> to figure that out!

On our first outing we had a male leopard climbing up a tree to its previously killed prey. There were several more leopard and cheetah sightings during the trip but the stars of the show this year were the small lion cubs. Everyone loved photographing them play and interact… such a treat!

One of my favorite photo opportunities included two lionesses from the Fig Tree pride with six small cubs crossing the river. I have never seen the little ones swim across the river. Some jumped right in, while others had to be coaxed by mama. Once across, they played on the sand and enjoyed a day at the beach, complete with cubs falling into hippo footprints and cozying up to each other. I felt so blessed to be able to watch them interact with each other. I do have a shot of a cub jumping into the water and making a big splash-I’ll share that one later.

In the Mara, we have switched to a new camp, but we are still using the same main drivers that we have had for 10 years, yes, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years of epic safaris. I have treasured each and every one of them.

This one had a haunting look straight out of camera that I liked so I thought I’d share it.

We had so much fun at a Jackal de in the early morning light. I especially liked this one with the adult’s arm around the pup.

After the Mara we headed to Amboseli. Our mission there was to photograph elephants and boy did we clean up. Straight away we found Michael (one of the big tuskers) eating by the road, we had a ringside seat for some great behavior shots. We also had the opportunity to visit with Craig (the oldest tusker); we watched as he walked to a small pond and drank from it— fabulous! I’ll share some of those images later, but I did want to share a creative edit (below)from our evening with Craig.

I replaced the sky but the rest is real. My sky was similar but without clouds and a blown out sun—it was a grab shot. “Craig at last light”

In addition to the big tuskers, we had lots of dry lake bed photography with herds of elephants coming right at us. It’s interesting to watch as the matriarchs lead the way for their group. The tiny babies would stop shortly for a quick gulp of milk as they made their way to the marshy areas.

Sunrise and sunset photos did not disappoint. Our last evening was spent photographing a giraffe on the horizon with tons of dust kissed by the sun’s last rays.

We photographed the giraffe until the very last bit of ight.

During our time in Amboseli we even spotted two Honey badgers early one morning, which is a pretty rare sighting. The images were extremely noisy, I may share one after applying some heavy duty noise reduction to it.

Low-key Cheetah capture on grass that had been intentionally burned.

Female Common eland in soft light with birds.

I wanted to share this shot from Amboseli as we had almost zero Wildebeest in the Mara and so many in Amboseli. We usually se large herds in the Mara in September.

On our last morning we had a final game drive followed by fresh omelets to order. We said our goodbyes to our drivers/guides and boarded our charter flight back to Nairobi. I miss everyone already…big hugs to all.

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