Photographer Dan Jordan will present a course on photography — consisting of six sessions — beginning March 25 at the Olean Public Library. While the course is free, registration begins Friday, March 1; call the library at (716) 372-0200. Basic photography, camera operation and various types of shooting — portraits, landscapes, macro and wildlife — will be covered. Bring your camera to classes. Dan took the above photo in his backyard — the blue jay looks like it has a tiny snowball in its beak, but it’s actually a snow-covered peanut.

Mike Yip’s upcoming book follows a year of eagle activity in Parksville Qualicum Beach.

The Nanoose Bay-based photographer says he used October as a starting point for A Year of Eagles, since that’s when the resident nesting eagles return from a brief migration up the coast.

“Bald eagles sort of got in my head,” Yip said. “I really got focused on it for the whole last year and I thought, ‘this could be something that people are interested in’.”

After 20 years of birding and photography, he’s learned a lot about eagles and how to capture them in a photo. Patience and knowing where to look are both important.

The Doehle beach access in Parksville and Buccaneer Beach in Bowser are two of the best spots for eagles, according to Yip.

When the tide goes out at Buccaneer, a channel forms in between the rocky beach and a sandbar. Eagles and herons will feast on the fish left stranded, providing great photo opportunities for anyone willing to venture out in their gumboots.

One time Yip noticed a heron that was trying to swallow a large perch.

“He’s trying his best to handle it, they manipulate it and then they try an flip it and swallow it,” he said. “Suddenly I felt this presence behind me, and I turned around, there’s an eagle sitting 10 feet behind me on a rock.”

The eagle had spotted the struggling heron and, “he knew damn well the heron wasn’t going to swallow the perch, so he was just sitting there, almost on my shoulder,” Yip said.

Eventually the heron gave up and the eagle flew in and claimed its prize.

Parksville Qualicum Beach is full of eagle nesting areas, Yip said, another good photo opportunity.

He mentioned a study last year that found 51 active nests between Nanoose Bay and Deep Bay, with approximately 100 chicks hatched that season.

“Each nest is sort of a study in itself, it’s sort of fascinating.”

Yip’s book gives readers a glimpse into the life of a Vancouver Island eagle, such as the arrival of the herring in February is another major food event and one that coincides with mating season.

“That’s part of the success of my books is because I tell the story,” he said. “I don’t just show the pictures, I always tell the story.”

READ MORE: Coastal Canine Hydrotherapy celebrates 10 years in Errington

Yip enjoys observing a good feeding frenzy, where a herring ball forms as larger fish feed on the herring from below, with seagulls and birds of prey attacking from above.

These event can last for half an hour or more.

A Year of Eagles also dives into with the history of human and bald eagle interactions, such as the effects of the pesticide DDT, habitat loss and rampant hunting that nearly extinguished their populations. The Alaskan government even had a program that established a $2 bounty for every pair of talons turned in until 1953, but not before more than 120,000 eagles were killed.

Threats remain to bald eagles, such as when a farm animal is euthanized with barbiturates, toxic to the birds who feed on the bodies. Although the Nanaimo landfill now has a protocol to bury these carcasses right away, cases of illegal dumping still result in eagles becoming sick and dying.’

“That’s something that probably happens a lot more than we think because we only know the ones that get on the news,” Yip said.

Lead poisoning is also an eagle killer, he said, via feeding on a duck that’s been shot, or simply through exposure eating ducks and swans exposed to lead shot in the water.

Yip became interested in birding and photography after he retired as a teacher in 2001.

After a frost delay meant he could not golf one day, he happened to notice a strange looking and unfamiliar duck, which ended up being a shoveler duck. He bought a camera, and although his first round of photos did not turn out well, Yip was hooked.

“From that moment on I was just fascinated with birds,” he said. “You get good pictures and people think you’re really good, but it was because I had the best equipment, but then, I had to be out there as well.”

Yip anticipates the book, which will be hardcover and in full colour, will be ready for April 12.

It will retail for $39.95, but direct sales will be $30.

He is offering a 25 per cent discount for pre-orders. The best way to get in contact with Yip is at admin@vancouverislandbirds.com

Photographer Lawrence Smith of Harrisburg, Pa., stands in front of his photos  (6 in all) called “Black Elegance Series” at Studio 404 in Hornerstown section of Johnstown, Friday, February 23, 2024. The Photographers work will be showcased at the Black Essence Photography Exhibit.

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Travel can be daunting, especially in a world still reeling from the impact of COVID-19. However, whether it be a road trip or a once-in-a-lifetime excursion, travel can also be a chance to learn about yourself.

Minnesota travel photographer Autumn Carolynn’s new book “Traveling in Wonder: A Travel Photographer’s Tales of Wanderlust,” explores that theme of discovery and offers insights and tips for travel.

Carolynn, a former flight attendant and travel agent, spoke with MPR News arts reporter Jacob Aloi about a book that’s part memoir, part travel log.

Carolynn will also be hosting two book events this weekend, one on Feb. 24 at the Northrup King Building in studio 332 from 1-3 p.m. and another on the 25th at the American Swedish Institute from 2-4 p.m.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.  

Tell me what inspired you to publish this book

Carolynn: When COVID hit, and it was 2020, I had a period where there wasn’t a whole lot going on. And so, I had all of my travel journals and all of these pictures that were just sitting in my closet, and no one had ever seen them before. And I just decided to go through and write everything that I had in my travel journal in a Microsoft Word document, and then go through all of the different pictures that I had on my MicroSD cards.

And it became this idea of, you know, maybe someone would be interested in this, but I’m not quite sure. And then it just kind of flourished and took off … it’s four years later, and I’m just so excited. 

The book is broken into four major parts. It walks us through your journey in traveling, first as a student studying abroad and then as a flight attendant, then as a travel agent, and now as a travel photographer. Where did that love for travel first start? 

I started when I was really young, the first time that I ever flew on an airplane, I was six weeks old. And I flew down to Florida to visit my grandmother.

So, growing up, I was always on flights to go and visit grandma. And then my mom had this idea that for every spring break, she really wanted us to go to a different state or a different monument. So we went to Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon and things like that. And it was all road trips.

And then when I got to be older, I just remember being like a little kid and being in that plane, and sitting in my seat and getting those little airplane wings and just looking up at the flight attendants. And wishing to myself that I would be one day, and then it actually happened. 

What are some tips you’ve learned over the decade this book takes place? What are some tips you would impart to people as they begin their travel journey? 

My number one tip that I would say is for everyone to just start slowly.

For example, I have anxiety. And one of the things that, you know, when I get out of a rut from traveling a lot, sometimes it’s like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna go to the next town, and I’m gonna go to a new grocery store, or I’m going to explore something completely different from my regular day to day life.’

And then I build up that courage and that self-confidence of ‘Oh, yeah, I can do this.’ I can travel and then just those little baby steps, doing something small each day that’s new and different.

And then challenging yourself. So that way, when you do book that trip abroad for the first time, and you’re either flying solo or meeting up with people there, you have that confidence in you to say, ‘oh, yeah, I can do this. This is easy.’

‘Traveling in Wonder’ is not just a travel journal. There are also reflections on how travel has helped you deal with trauma and anxiety and things in your past. I’m curious: What are some ways travel has helped? 

The number one thing would be that I often used travel as a crutch for me to escape reality. Because when I was traveling in different places, I wasn’t thinking about all the stuff that was making me nervous.

I was thinking about, ‘Oh, where am I going to go for lunch next, and I need to meet up with these friends that I just met at the hostel later on today and have to remember to go and meet up with them later.’ I’m much more in the moment when I’m traveling.

However, I learned my lesson. When I got home from traveling, I would kind of almost go into this deep depression because I would really just miss being constantly traveling — because I had to sit with my feelings and I had to sit with what anxiety is when you’re not constantly on the go.

And I feel like now I’ve learned a lot of skills and different ways to cope with that anxiety. So that way, when I come home from traveling, I’m not so depressed.

And also when I am traveling, I’m not so much on the go that I can take my time and that I can learn to be nervous in those different places — and I can learn to just sit with my feelings and I don’t have to constantly be changing my minds and folk refocusing what I’m looking at. So that way I’m more focused on what’s in the moment. 

In the world of landscape and nature photography, capturing the perfect shot often requires venturing into harsh and unforgiving environments. Whether it’s trying to stay warm in the biting cold or attempting to stay dry in frozen rain, photographers need gear that not only shields them from the elements but also enhances their ability to focus on their craft. Enter the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro.

Full disclosure: This article is brought to you by Haukland Photographer’s Clothing.

The Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro is a revolutionary jacket system designed to be the ultimate companion for photographers braving the elements. Photographer Benjamin Jaworskyj has spent much of his decade-long photography career in harsh environments. After trying countless all-weather jackets on his adventures, Jaworskyj had always felt that they were missing features that would enhance a photographer’s ability to efficiently and comfortably capture epic landscape photos for their portfolio.

In 2018, he organized his photographer’s jacket wishlist that he had been accumulating, and founded Haukland Photographer’s Clothing out of his hometown in Germany. He partnered with respected clothing designers who could help bring his vision to life. The result was the original Haukland 7-in-1 Classic Photographers Jacket, which garnered wide praise throughout the landscape and nature photography industry.

Despite the positive reviews and popularity of the original jacket, Jaworskyj went back to the drawing board to add improvements to the design and upgrade the materials. The result was the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro.

Unparalleled Protection Against the Elements

Harsh weather can be unforgiving, with freezing temperatures, biting winds, and unpredictable precipitation posing significant challenges for photographers. Whether in winter, fall, spring, or even early summer mornings, landscape photographers often find themselves in challenging environments. The Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro is engineered to provide unparalleled protection against the elements, ensuring that photographers can focus on capturing stunning images without worrying about the temperature, rain, or snow.

One of the standout features of the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro is its advanced multi-layer insulation system, which combines a warm fleece jacket, a thick and well-constructed padded jacket, and a durable outer shell to provide exceptional warmth even in the coldest conditions.

The parka shell is made from high-quality sail sport membrane fabric, which gives it exceptional “medium to strong” rain protection, complete with taped seams that help prevent seepage. This design effectively repels moisture and blocks out wind, keeping photographers dry and protected even in the most inclement weather. This ensures that valuable camera lenses, batteries, and memory cards stored inside the jacket remain safe from water damage, allowing photographers to focus on their creative vision without worrying about the elements.

Whether shooting in sub-zero temperatures, chilling winds, or an intense storm, photographers can rely on the Parka Pro to keep them comfortably warm and dry throughout their outdoor adventures.

Versatility and Adaptability

Photographers often find themselves in situations where they need to adapt quickly to changing weather conditions or varying shooting environments. The Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro jacket set excels in versatility, offering a range of innovative features that cater to the diverse needs of photographers in any setting.

One of the key highlights of the Parka Pro is its modular design, which allows photographers to customize the jacket set combination according to their specific requirements. This begins with the base layer, a high-quality fleece jacket. This fleece layer has eight total pockets with five of those creating what Haukland calls the mini photo bag. This section of pockets made from mesh on the inside of the fleece is designed to carry memory cards, batteries, and lenses.

The second layer is a thick and warm puffy, or ‘padded’ jacket. The mini photo bag in this layer has a waterproof film to protect valuable photography equipment in the rain or snow.

The third layer is an incredibly durable wind and water-resistant outer shell made of treated outdoor fabric with a polyurethane waterproof membrane from sail sports fabric and taped seams for rugged weather. This layer contains 11 different-sized pockets including the five pockets in the mini photo bag. The two chest pockets are designed to carry lens caps while two large pockets can hold filters up to 100x150mm or the Haukland 3-in-1 photography gloves. An interior top left pocket can hold a phone, passport, or slim wallet.

This outer jacket can easily be connected to the padded jacket or the fleece using zippers, buttons, and eyelets. With all three of the layers active, the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro can keep photographers warm in temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit or -25 degrees Celsius. This unique and easy-to-use layer system means photographers can easily adapt to fluctuating temperatures and activity levels without sacrificing comfort or mobility.

An All-Weather Jacket Set Optimized for Photography

While protection against the elements is paramount, the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro also incorporates features specifically tailored to the needs of photographers. These thoughtful design elements not only enhance comfort and functionality but also elevate the overall photography experience for photographers.

Each layer of Haukland’s jackets includes a set of photography-specific pockets on the inside left panel, known as the mini photo bag. These pockets are carefully sized to hold extra batteries, memory cards, and even small to medium-sized lenses. Being that the internal mini photo bag is inside each of the layers in the jacket set means that they are protected from the elements, especially within the outer layer jacket shell.

This dedicated camera and accessory access system allows photographers to quickly and easily retrieve their gear without having to remove the jacket. Strategically placed openings ensure that photographers can access their equipment with minimal hassle, enabling them to capture fleeting moments quickly.

Each layer also has a built-in, easy-to-access lens cloth pocket. In all his years of landscape photography, Jaworskj noted that his lens cloth was the one piece of gear that he was never sure of its location. He would often find himself spending valuable time searching through every pocket on himself and in his backpack looking for a lens cloth, causing the light and the clouds in front of him to move out of their ideal positions. With the easy-to-access lens cloth pocket, photographers should never miss a moment when needing to quickly clean their lenses of fingerprints or dust.

Every aspect of the parka is designed with photographers in mind, offering a range of adjustable features that cater to the unique needs of photographers in the field. A total of 29 pockets ensures photographers are never short on space to carry whatever gear they might need quick access to. With its intelligent design, the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro is optimized to enhance shooting efficiency and minimize distractions.

Durability and Reliability

In the demanding world of landscape photography, gear reliability is vital to capturing dynamic photos. The Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro is built to withstand the rigors of outdoor photography, with durable materials and reinforced construction ensuring long-lasting performance in even the harshest conditions.

Constructed from high-quality materials, the Parka Pro is designed to withstand abrasion, tears, and other wear and tear associated with outdoor use. This durability-focused construction not only enhances the longevity of the jacket but also instills confidence in photographers, knowing that their gear can withstand the challenges that they face in the field.

Moreover, the Parka Pro undergoes rigorous testing and quality control procedures to ensure that it meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. From stitching integrity to seam sealing, every aspect of the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro is scrutinized to deliver uncompromising quality and durability that photographers can rely on in any situation.

Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro Signature Edition and Accessories

The Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro comes in two color variants. The Benjamin Jaworskyj Signature Edition is a sleek, all-black shell that is as stylish as it is functional. The Albert Dros Signature Edition has an attractive red shell that stands out extraordinarily well against landscape backgrounds. Both Signature editions come with a black padded jacket and a gray fleece jacket. The Signature Editions also come with three Haukland lens cloths, which can be placed in the dedicated lens cloth pockets on all three layers.

While Haukland’s first product was their original Haukland 7-in-1 Classic Photographers Jacket, they have since expanded their lineup to include other photography focused items. The Haukland 3-in-1 Photography Gloves consist of a softshell inner glove and a cozy warm outer glove. The outer glove can be opened at the fingertips through the welded YKK zipper to operate a camera or a phone. The gloves also contain a small zippered pocket on the top that can fit common hand warmers as well as SD cards and other small items.

The Haukland x EVOC Photo Backpack is an 18-liter camera backpack designed like the EVOC CP 18L, which was made for sports photographers.

For the Haukland edition, the side access was closed for increased theft protection and an additional large outer pocket was added. The interior of the backpack can accommodate one camera with a small telephoto lens as well as four other lenses. The arrangement can also be adjusted to each photographer’s needs by reconfiguring the velcro compartments.

The Ultimate All-Season, All-Weather Jacket for Photographers

The Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro stands out as the ultimate jacket set for photographers navigating the challenges of any weather situation. With its unparalleled protection against the elements, its exceptional versatility, its rugged durability, and its photography-specific features, the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro offers everything a photographer needs to stay comfortable, focused, and productive in any outdoor setting. Whether braving pouring rain on a mountaintop or chasing the perfect shot in the midst of a snowstorm, photographers can trust that the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro is the only jacket they will ever need on their rugged outdoor photography adventures.

Full disclosure: This article was brought to you by Haukland Photographer’s Clothing.

From a lemon shark sharing a toothy grin at dusk, to a green-blue mahi-mahi ambushing sardines, the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year (UPY) Awards showcase the stunning beauty and diversity of our world’s oceans.

Photographers from around the world submitted roughly 6,500 photographs for 13 contest categories that celebrate both technical craft and creative eyes—including the esteemed “Underwater Photographer of the Year” title, which honors an overall winner. In total, 130 photographs were distinguished with awards or commendations.

The competition is based in the United Kingdom, which, according to UPY, has a rich history of underwater photography contests. In 1965, the Brighton Underwater Film Festival was organized in the country for the first time. Two years later, the British Society of Underwater Photographers was founded, inspiring decades of undersea image-making.

“But since these only cater for underwater images of wildlife, 50 years after the original Brighton Festival, we decided to bring a dedicated and international underwater photography contest back to Britain,” per the UPY website. In addition to photos of animals, the contest honors images featuring wrecks, divers and human impact on the environment. The inaugural UPY Awards took place in 2014 and 2015.

Here are 15 otherworldly images of some of this year’s award winners and runners-up. UPY published the full winning gallery online.

Whale Bones by Alex Dawson

Local hunters in eastern Greenland use nearly every last part of the minke whales they kill, before pushing the carcasses down the beach, allowing high tide to pull their bones back into the North Atlantic Ocean.

Swedish photographer Alex Dawson imaged a diver in the frigid waters off Tasiilaq, Greenland, holding her breath as she explores the skeleton. The diver’s wetsuit and torch give the image what contest judge Peter Rowlands describes in a statement as a “‘visiting alien’ feel.”

“My buddy Anna von Boetticher… she’s brave enough to jump in a wetsuit in this minus-two degree water,” Dawson says in a video, speaking about the diver in the image. “She’s the tough one, I promise you.”

Twilight Smile by Rodolphe Guignard

French photographer Rodolphe Guignard’s “face-to-face encounter” with a lemon shark off the island of Grand Bahama is a moody, terrifying moment in time, backdropped by the beauty of a sunset’s pastel swipes.

Guignard captured the image from the swim-step on a dive boat, partially submerging both his body and his camera to take a shot that included the view above and below the water’s surface.

“On this day the sea was rough, it was almost dark and the sharks were lively and very curious,” he says in a statement.

“The grin and the eye contact inject a sinister undercurrent to the picture,” says chair of the contest jury Alex Mustard in the statement.

March of the Tadpoles by Shane Gross

For several frigid hours snorkeling on Canada’s Vancouver Island, things “were not very exciting,” Canadian photographer Shane Gross says in a statement. But then, millions of western toad tadpoles began their migration from the lake’s depths to the lily pads and shallows above, to feed on the algae.

“My goal was to try and tell as much of the story as possible in one frame where we see, of course, the cute little animals, but also the lily pads and the forest-covered mountains in the background,” Gross adds in the statement.

Saving Goliath by Nuno Sá

On a warm April day, dozens of beachgoers near Lisbon, Portugal, were shocked to see a wounded sperm whale struggling to swim after it had been hit by a ship. The creature had become stuck on the sand, and they did their best to push its massive body back out to sea, to no avail. During their struggle—and the final hours of this whale’s life—Portuguese photographer Nuno Sá captured this scene, which played out near his home.

“This is a situation that tells a lot about how we are impacting the oceans,” Sá says in a video about the image. “Over 20,000 whales die of collisions with ships every year. If you think about the several species of whales that are known to last from 100 to 200 years, in their lifespan they’ve gone from an ocean of safety and silence to a chaos of noise and ocean pollution.”

For this photograph, Sá won the title of Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year, sponsored by the Save Our Seas Foundation.

An Abstract Portrait of a Potbelly Seahorse by Talia Greis

Red, green and purple hues pop in Sydney’s murky waters, as a potbelly seahorse swims amid coral in this scene captured by Australian photographer Talia Greis.

“I was drawn to this particular seahorse because it had especially distinguished markings around the eye, and the jaw-dropping color palette made a striking contrast with the surrounding coral,” Greis says in a statement. “To me, the seahorse’s striking red eye and posture conveys power and strength, arising from the smoky underbelly of the ocean.”

The End of the Baitball by Rafael Fernandez Caballero

In a final effort to survive, when fish are threatened by predators, they might swim in a spherical formation known as a bait ball. This strategy conceals most of the fish inside the ball and exposes as few as possible.

The El Niño weather phenomenon of 2023 turned Pacific Ocean waters warmer than usual, prompting many more animals than normal to hunt sardines in Mexico’s Magdalena Bay. These sardines worked together to form bait balls, and during this particular hunt, Bryde’s whales were “the stars of the show,” says Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero in a statement.

“The photo shows the high-speed attack,” he adds in a separate statement, “with the whale engulfing hundreds of kilograms of sardines in one bite—simply unforgettable to see predation on such a scale.”

“Absolutely jaw dropping (pun intended),” adds contest judge Rowlands.

Aquatic Primate by Suliman Alatiqi

While in Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands, Kuwaiti photographer Suliman Alatiqi observed this male macaque foraging for crabs.

“The macaques have adapted very well to living around the sea and will venture into the water for various reasons including transportation, scavenging, cooling down and playing,” he says in a statement. “Highly efficient swimmers, they can dive for up to half a minute and can cover short distances faster than most humans.”

Dolphins Portrait by Tetsuji Akimoto

During a mere ten-minute swim with dolphins off Japan’s Toshima Island, Japanese photographer Tetsuji Akimoto experienced “one of [the] most interesting behaviors I have captured during my observation of dolphins for over ten years,” he says in a statement.

“This pair came close to me several times for trying to get my attention, clearly wanting to interact.”

Kiss Me by Andrea Michelutti

In the “compact” category, meant to highlight wide-angle or macro photos shot with a compact camera, Italian photographer Andrea Michelutti was commended for a number of images. But perhaps none is more intimate than this portrait of two scorpionfish that appear to have their lips pressed together.

“The elliptical light, passing through the bodies of the subjects, gave exactly the atmosphere I was looking for,” Michelutti says in a statement. “Their seemingly affectionate behavior gives the photo a unique feeling.”

Window of Opportunity by Lisa Stengel

American photographer Lisa Stengel spent a week in Mexico’s Magdalena Bay looking for bait balls of fish on the defensive. She found this spectacular school of sardines—in the throes of a mahi mahi attack—by listening for commotion. Stengel noticed the sardines made a specific noise each time the mahi mahi went in to strike.

“If you listen, there’s an enormous amount of sound in the ocean,” she explains in a statement. “The action was too fast to see, so I honed in on the sound of the attacks with my camera to capture this special moment.”

Double pygmy by Byron Conroy

Icelandic photographer Byron Conroy captured these two vibrant pygmy seahorses in Nudi Retreat, Lembeh, Indonesia. Using special gear and camera techniques, he illuminated the pair of animals and blurred the blue environment around them.

“Commonly photographed subjects have to be captured in a new way to catch the judges’ eye, and this is a perfect example,” contest judge Rowlands says in a statement. “Excellent use of lighting and movement to create a standout image with a dream-like quality.”

River Dolphin Surfaces in Amazon’s Mystic Depths by Olivier Clement

In the Amazon River near Manaus, Brazil, a Boto, or pink river dolphin, “emerges like a fleeting note in the dark, composing a visual symphony amidst the flooded forest,” says Canadian photographer Olivier Clement in a statement. No strobes nor bait were used to take this photograph, to cause as little a disturbance as possible.

“This dolphin seems to be dreaming of another world,” says contest judge Mustard in the statement.

Divebomb by Kat Zhou

During one of six photography trips to the United Kingdom in the last year, American photographer Kat Zhou spent a week in Shetland, home to the country’s seventh-largest colony of northern gannets. In this photograph, they purposefully dive in search of food.

“Gannets are one of my favorite seabirds, and it was a really incredible experience to get to be in the water with them,” Zhou says in a video about the image. “It’s kind of like this chaotic adrenaline rush when they’re diving all around, and you never really know where to point your camera.”

Star Attraction by Jenny Stock

During a dive at dusk in Loch Leven, Scotland, photographer Jenny Stock of the U.K. was surprised to happen upon a “living carpet of thousands of brittle stars,” she says in a statement. As she moved around the area snapping photographs, she found this purple sea urchin, well-placed among the other creatures.

“A dominant star next to this graphic invertebrate created a beautifully balanced pair,” she adds, “perfectly surrounded by an entanglement of the background brittle stars.”

Grey Whale Connection by Rafael Fernandez Caballero

Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero, who also won the behavior category for his image of a whale attacking a bait ball, took home the portrait award for this photograph of the human-like eye of a grey whale.

When one of these massive mammals curiously swam up to his boat in Magdalena Bay in Mexico, he took over 1,000 photographs of it, he describes in a video. Only this single image, however, captured what he thought was a perfectly human look.

“These special moments highlight the beauty and intelligence of the whales, creating enduring memories for both observers and, surely, the curious whales themselves,” he says in a statement.

Scientists have photographed more than 100 never-before-seen species that were discovered during a deep-sea expedition.

The discoveries come from an international group of scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition who explored underwater mountain ranges, also known as seamounts, in the southeast Pacific, off the coast of Chile this year.

Among the newly identified species of sea life discovered were deep-sea corals, glass sponges, sea urchins, amphipods, and squat lobsters.

Scientists used an underwater robot capable of reaching depths of 14,763 feet (4,500 meters). Using the underwater robot, the scientists were able to map a total of 20,377 square miles (52,777 square kilometers) of the seafloor.

This not only resulted in the discovery of over 100 new species, but also four new seamounts — each with its own distinct ecosystem.

‘Mind-Blowing’ Discoveries

The Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition was led in January and February by Dr Javier Sellanes of Chile’s Universidad Catolica del Norte.

“We far exceeded our hopes on this expedition,” Sellanes says in a statement.

“You always expect to find new species in these remote and poorly explored areas, but the amount we found, especially for some groups like sponges, is mind-blowing.

“These thriving and healthy ecosystems indicate that the Nazca-Desventuradas and Juan Fernandez Marine Parks effectively protect delicate marine habitats.”

The researchers took samples of the never-before-seen underwater creatures and will now begin studying each one to determine whether they are a newfound species. The process of formally naming and identifying these new alien-like creatures can take several years.

“Full species identification can take many years, and Dr Sellanes and his team have an incredible number of samples from this amazingly beautiful and little-known biodiversity hotspot,” explains Dr Jyotika Virmani, Schmidt Ocean Institute Executive Director.

However, all of these strange sea creatures were photographed by the Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition’s underwater robot.

In one image, a bright red fish known as a Chaunax is captured on camera at a depth of 4,553 feet (1,388 meters). A beady-eyed squat lobster was also photographed on coral at a depth of 2,194 feet (669 meters), while other fascinating photos show a rarely-seen whiplash squid at 3,625 feet (1,105 meters).

Image credits: All images by Schmidt Ocean Institute

A photographer, McNamara dedicated his time to the Brunswick Community Garden in Jersey City. 

“He was an amazing photographer, a great organizer of so many events that brought us all together, a father, a husband, and much more,” Beth Achenbach, a Jersey City artist said on Facebook. 

“I’m glad to have known him.”

He is survived by his wife Alison and his daughter, Scarlett. The fundraiser will go toward Scarlett’s future education and supporting Alison during this time. As of Friday, Feb. 23, almost $7,000 has been raised.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. at Michalski Funeral Home in Jersey City. To view the fundraiser, click here.

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When planning a wedding, area photographers recommend finding someone who can capture the special moments, people and feelings of the big day.

Carrie Dinger Robbins of Captured by Carrie Photography, has been capturing weddings on film for 14 years.

“Weddings are probably my most enjoyable aspect of my business,” Robbins said. “It’s really a passion of mine. They’re a lot of hard work, but I just don’t seem to tire of it even after almost a decade and a half of shooting them. It’s always a happy day.”

She typically shoots 10 weddings a year and between five and eight engagement sessions. While many are close to her home near Mansfield, she’s ventured as far away as Orlando, Fla. to shoot one.

“Usually I see it being very busy in the fall. September, October are usually the busiest for me,” Robbins said. “Typically it’s usually every Saturday in September.”

If timing allows, Robbins can shoot two weddings a day and usually spends six hours at each wedding, although the bride and groom can book more or less time for their special day. It all starts with pre-planning.

Couple booking Walck Portraits of Coudersport get two photographers, husband and wife Tim and Megan Walck.

The couple opened Walck Photography in 2009. While the couple has shot upwards of 25-30 weddings in a year, now with a growing family, they have reduced the number to a handful.

When taking wedding photos, the Walcks’ goal is to capture the story not only of the wedding day, but also the couple’s relationship and feelings for one another.

Tim Walck developed a booklet after courses with the Professional Photographers of America. It outlines the wedding day timeline, suggestions, things to think about and even some advice on married life.

They also schedule a consultation with the bridal couple to discuss the process, answer questions and review pricing. They also want to make sure that it’s a good fit for both photographers and the engaged couple. That’s one reason they suggest engagement photos to familiarize the couple with the process of taking photos and the end product.

“When we talk with the bride and groom before on goals, we usually start with the end in mind,” said Tim Walck.

Most couples will book the photographer six to 12 months in advance. Every bride and groom receives a questionnaire that tells Robbins the number of guests, size of the wedding party, the venue and any special shots the couple wants to have. She also provides guidance to help the couple’s day run smoothly.

“I kind of guide them on scheduling throughout the day. If they have 250 guests and a 10-bridesmaid/10 groomsmen party, they need to allow enough time to grab wedding party photos,” she said. “The bigger the wedding is, you have to think about how long that will take people to go through the line and get food. You definitely plan on every aspect of the day based on the number of people involved.”

There’s no set number of photos provided by Robbins; each wedding is unique and her goal is to capture the images that reflect that. She takes photos of details like the invitation, shoes or boots, clothing and jewelry, floral arrangements, candid and posed photos of family and out-of-town guests, along with images at and of the venue. A couple booking her for six hours will receive between 800-1,200 images.

Walck Portraits offers an assortment of print packages, with many couples ordering albums or a large framed image for the wall.

“If they are planning to buy a large piece for a mantle or couch or collage up stairs, we know we want to get specific pictures,” he said. “If we’re doing a wedding album, we have to have a very specific storytelling set of images that make it through a wedding album.”

The Walcks work in tandem to offer a wide range of images for the couple.

“During the ceremony, we’ll do two different vantage points. She’s usually up close with a wide angle and I’m back with a telephoto lens,” Tim Walck said. “We’ll do something similar at the reception. We like to do table shots where we get all the guests at the wedding as much as possible. We try to get a bit of everything, trying to capture the day as well as possible.”

During the posed family photos, Megan will round up and arrange groups while Tim works the camera and lights.

“We try to work quickly and efficiently so we can get to reception as soon as possible,” he said.

Timing is also crucial for the Walcks, who stress the importance of planning with the wedding couple.

“People having unrealistic timelines. I always try to work with them on a timeline that is realistic and add padding and cushioning,” he said. “Hair and make-up always takes longer than they think it will. Every time. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a wedding where we’re not in a time crunch.”

Finding and preserving the special moments is their job, said the photographers.

“The last question I always ask them is what are three to five things that are most important to you when thinking about your wedding day,” Robbins said.

She provides both color and black and white images.

“I want my images to last forever. I don’t do a lot of trendy editing. I like my images to be clear, colorful, bold,” she said. “I don’t want people to look back on their photos 30 years from now and think they’re outdated. I want them to still be bright, clear, colorful, and not a lot of distraction to it.

The Walcks like to schedule an “epic shot” at the end of the day. They’ll bring in studio lights, extra flashes, gels or liquid smokes to create a dramatic image that could be used as an album cover or wall art.

Robbins advises couples to plan ahead, take advice and tips from others, and, if the wedding and reception are outdoors, hope for the best but plan for the worst.

“I’d say just do a lot of planning and a lot of research and enjoy the planning process and the wedding day as much as you can.,” she said.

Most importantly, relax and enjoy the big day, he said.

“I always tell the bride don’t sweat it because they’re not going to start without you,” said Tim Walck. “I always tell them to try to find peace and quiet time away from the crowd on their own so the bride and groom can enjoy time on their own on the wedding day. When we plan an epic photo, that is one of the reasons why we do it. On their wedding day, the bride and groom get pulled in a hundred different directions. Sometimes it’s really nice to get outside or in a different room where we set up this amazing image we’re going to take and have some time as a couple.”

That, he added, is pretty good advice for marriage as well.

For more information, contact Captured by Carrie Photography at 570-463-1985 or Walck Portraits at www.walckportraits.com, 814-655-1070 or on Facebook.