Nature’s beauty,

captured one frame at a time

Meet Reed. He was not impressed by the 17°F wind chill but neither was I. Here comes the sun, little goosey. 🪿☀️ Swipe for shot details. C

I have a theory about why birds captivate me the way they do. It might be the planes. It might be the dinosaurs. Honestly, it might be both.


Whatever the origin, something about birds puts me in a different mode entirely. Patient. Focused. Tracking. It is the closest I get to feeling like a hunter, deploying every instinct I have to find, follow, and capture a subject in a completely unguarded moment.


More often than not, that unguarded moment happens to be on the side of a road.


I hope you enjoy some of what I "caught" in 2025, and now what I am adding in 2026. Or made. Some might argue about that word, made. I just point my Nikon. Animals and I generally seem to find a way to connect.

2026

McHenry Dam on the Fox River, McHenry, IL


Not only did my old model Jeff (yes, a gull, and yes, Instagram named him) return, finally in a better mood, but he brought some magnificent models with him for the morning: other gulls and some large birds, including a group of double-crested cormorants.


My time watching birds has been a joyful one, and it's really about patience. Capturing the moment means a lot of waiting for the moment to happen. Staying quiet, being one with nature. It's not something you can do with your phone on, and I love that. Disconnect from the digital world, reconnect with nature.



I know the "rule" is that we aren't supposed to name the animals. But after enough hours I honestly start to feel connected to them. They're wild animals, no doubt about it, but after sitting with these birds for hours, I can tell you they start to accept that you're there. I think a lot of that depends on how you act. I'm there to observe only. I don't feed them, I don't interrupt them, and I don't make noises to get them to look. Mostly I stay absolutely still. They come to me.


Interested in bird photography, or curious why my Nikon Z7 II isn't a "bird camera" but does just fine anyway? Reach out, let's talk.


Reach me at brian@bluewolfsnap.com or (847) 220-4664.

White egret taking flight over a tranquil river with submerged driftwood and lush green trees in background.
A white egret perches among tangled driftwood and reeds in a misty lake at dusk, with lush green trees in the background.
A great egret wading near a moss-covered tree trunk in calm lake waters, surrounded by lush green vegetation.
A bird soars gracefully in flight against a backdrop of lush green trees and a blue sky.
A great egret wading in shallow water near a large tree trunk surrounded by green foliage.
A seagull standing on green grass near a pond in bright sunlight, showcasing its gray and white plumage.

Flowers & Wildlife 2026

Flowers, Bees & Butterflies at McHenry Dam, McHenry, IL


I understand the fear, but don't you also see the beauty the great pollinators bring? I stood with these bumblebees (genus bombus - what a name!) for well over an hour one Spring day at the Lake Atwood Boat Launch Crystal Lake, IL, very literally right on top of them in the cherry blossoms (sakura), with some of them mistaking me for a flower. Zero issues.


When a bee comes close, I always tell people, "It just thinks you're a flower. Take it as a compliment." Give it a moment to assess ("no pollen here") and it'll move on. A bee doesn't think in aggression and fury. It doesn't set out for the day planning to sting. I promise you that. (Unless you're allergic. Then admire from a distance.)


I really enjoy photographing flowers and butterflies. One, for Rose, because she loves them. Two, just look at them, almost unreal beauty sometimes.


I even caught a little ninja ruby-throated hummingbird hiding in the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum). It was way out across the field, I was shooting at 600mm, and I didn't even know it was there until I looked at the shot. The eastern black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes), the on the wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) was similar: far away, but I spotted it flying around the field and grabbed a quick shot as it went from flower to flower. People walking by must have thought I was a little nutty, aiming a very large lens at what looked like an empty field.


More to come from this day at the McHenry Dam: turtles, a green heron, and more.


Want to head out on a nature adventure, or want a session somewhere wild? Reach me at brian@bluewolfsnap.com or (847) 220-4664.

Bright yellow wildflowers with dark centers bloom among lush green leaves in a sunny garden setting.
Black swallowtail butterfly perched on purple wildflowers in a lush green meadow garden setting.
A butterfly perches on purple wild bergamot flowers surrounded by lush green foliage in a natural garden setting.
White apple blossoms bloom on branches against a bright blue sky in spring.
White apple blossoms in full bloom on a branch against a bright blue sky in spring.
Bees pollinating white cherry blossoms on a branch against a bright blue sky in spring.
A red-bellied woodpecker clings to a large tree trunk in a bare winter forest, showcasing its vibrant red cap.
Seagulls stand on a sandy beach near a warning sign with calm blue water and distant shoreline in the background.
A red-bellied woodpecker clings to a tree trunk surrounded by dried oak leaves in a winter woodland setting.
One more of our little buddy fishing for dinner but with his friend in the back this time. Nikon Z7ii
Generally, I find it a tad distasteful to speak poorly of clients. Jeff was mostly amicable throughout most of the shoot. Then he demanded
Caught this while out shooting on the Fox River yesterday with the kid and lady. Was a gorgeous night. This one was alllllll the way across
Butterfly hunting in Crystal Lake. I told em we already got one. Wait, no, that's a Grail joke. Nevermind.Flutter along, nothing to see here
Nikon z7ii 1/2500 f4.5 200mm 70-200mm Nikon S Is that a Turkey Vulture? Yep. Did I mean to? I mean...I wasn't out shooting birds so... no? I
Still water, still morning. ❄️🪿Swipe for details Caught on the Fox River in Algonquin.
She's not ignoring you. She's just not interested. There's a difference. 🪿
Someone posed like a little model. Not even the reflection could steal the show from this guy. Good morning, hot stuff.🦆
CAW CAW OH! Uh...OH! If I don't move, they can't see me...right? 🐦
Have you ever seen the sky in her eyes? 🪿
"I like it, when I get the worm...duh"🐛
A mallard duck stands on lush green grass at the edge of a sunlit forest with tall trees. McHenry Dam
A mallard duck rests on green grass in front of a golden sunlit forest backdrop. McHenry Dam
A mallard duck sits in bright green grass with a beautiful bokeh forest background in golden light. McHenry Dam
A mallard duck peers above green grass with a dark blurred forest background in soft light. McHenry Dam
A mallard duck stands alert in green grass with tall trees and golden bokeh in the background. McHenry Dam
A mallard duck sits on lush green grass with a stunning golden bokeh forest background. McHenry Dam
A Canada goose stretches its neck upward while standing on a grass lawn near stone bollards. McHenry Dam
A Canada goose stands tall on green grass beside stone bollards in a sunny park setting. McHenry Dam
A Canada goose walks on green grass in a urban park with granite bollards and trees in the background. McHenry Dam
A Canada goose stands alert on green grass near a metal pole with stone pillars and trees behind it. McHenry Dam
A Canada goose stands on a sunny park path beside a metal pole with granite bollards in the background. McHenry Dam
A Canada goose stretches its wings on a sunlit park path with stone bollards and lush greenery nearby. McHenry Dam

Captured at our local Chicago Zoos please visit and support the animals (Not for sale)

A African wild dog sits alert in sepia-toned photo with rocky background and pack members resting behind.
A giraffe peers over a bridge railing in striking black and white photography with blurred background.
A majestic Bengal tiger walks near rocky enclosure walls, showcasing its vivid orange and black striped coat.
A massive American bison stands among colorful wildflowers, its thick brown fur coat filling the frame.
A wet polar bear stands on rocky terrain in a dramatic blue-toned zoo enclosure habitat.
A dark wolf moves stealthily through a shadowy forest undergrowth in a moody desaturated photograph.
A Bengal tiger rests on stone rocks while eating raw meat in its zoo enclosure.
Close-up of a dolphin's tail fin splashing water during a marine animal training session.
A dolphin leaping gracefully out of the blue water in a zoo aquarium pool.
Vibrant scarlet macaw parrot with red, yellow, and blue feathers perched on a tree branch.
Two tall reticulated giraffes standing beside a building roof surrounded by lush green trees.
Two reticulated giraffes with distinctive brown and white patterned coats standing close together.
Close-up portrait of two reticulated giraffes with ossicones facing the camera outdoors.
Majestic bald eagle perched on a log with yellow talons inside a wire enclosure.
A male lion with a full mane resting its head on a rock in soft light.
A chimpanzee with an open mouth sitting among bamboo in a zoo enclosure.
Black and white photo of a gorilla sitting and holding straw inside a zoo enclosure.
Close-up profile of a Grevy's zebra showcasing bold black and white stripes in a natural zoo habitat.