Category Archives: Travel Photos

Travel photography from around the world.

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Groundhog

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A Groundhog, or Woodchuck
A Groundhog, or Woodchuck, photographed in Wakami Lake Provincial Park, Ontario

 

Groundhogs are a type of marmot characterized as furry, lowland creatures that can be found across a large part of US and Canada. They’re also called Woodchucks sometimes!

Close to home, in Ontario, Groundhogs are the main ‘hole-digging’ animal, creating underground burrows and homes for themselves – but also subsequently providing shelter for other animals like foxes, rabbits, skunks and raccoons.

They’re famously known from the movie ‘Groundhog Day’ and the myth that if a Groundhog sees its shadow on Groundhog Day (Febraury 2nd) then there will be six more weeks of winter. If the Groundhog does not see it’s shadow that day, then it will be an early spring.

Groundhogs can swim very well and climb with ease, but tend to spend almost all of their time on land, or in their burrows.

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Galapagos Penguin

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Penguin in the Galapagos Islands
A Galapagos Penguin swimming near Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island

 

Returning to the Galapagos Islands four years after my first visit, there was one specific animal on my ‘must photograph’ list – the endangered Galapagos Penguin!

The last time I was in the Galapagos Islands I saw only two penguins while I was snorkeling at Bartolome Island. They sat on a rocky ledge for a brief 10 seconds before vanishing in the water and escaping from me and my camera.

The second smallest penguins in the world, and the only penguins that are not restricted to the southern hemisphere, these equator-hopping penguins are cute little guys.

They’re not flashy, but they’re definitely ‘penguin’. Blending in perfectly with the black, grey and white lava rocks around the islands, they are surprisingly well camouflaged.

But in the crystal clear water, they are perfect little photo subjects.

This guy was one of three that were swimming along not far from Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island.

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Elk in Great Smoky Mountains NP

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Elk in Great Smoky Mountains NP
An Elk, photographed in Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

Until the 1700’s, Elk were a common sight in North Carolina and the Appalachian Mountains.

For the past 300 years, they haven’t existed as they were recklessly hunted. But, in 2001 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park began a re-introduction program that has been quite successful and you are able to potentially see Elk living in the wild once again in North Carolina.

One place they tend to stay is in the Cataloochee Valley area of the park, near the historic Palmer Church and Palmer Place House.

These are the biggest animals in the national park, surpassing the black bears in size, so be careful and keep a distance!

 

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: New Zealand Fur Seal

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New Zealand Fur Seal
A baby New Zealand Fur Seal photographed near Dunedin

 

On my visit to New Zealand I made a point to visit Dunedin, for it’s wildlife watching.

I saw penguins there, which was my main draw, but the New Zealand Fur Seals were a big attraction as well.

A little more than a hundred years ago, these fur seals were hunted to near extinction by the Maori people. Thankfully, today there is a growing population near Dunedin, around the Otago Peninsula.

It was late-November when I visited and we were lucky enough to see a number of newborn fur seals, even some that had just been born that day! (Kind of gross with the placenta still lying on the rocks.)

Travel Photos

Monument Valley, Arizona

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Monument Valley Landscape
A landscape scene from Monument Valley in Arizona

 

The first time I visited Arizona it was a very quick trip. It was a little hop over the border from Utah to visit Navajo Nation and see Monument Valley.

I’m not a big ‘Western’ movie fan or anything like that, but I still got a feeling of adventure and discovery as I drove down the highway along the iconic strip that everyone takes photos of. Seeing people on horseback riding along just helped with the stereotypical vision I had of what Monument Valley would be like.

I explored Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park the next day with my Navajo guide and this was one of the first photos I took while enjoying the scenery and learning about the history of this part of the US.