Category Archives: Nature Photography

Mind blowing photo goes viral because it hasn’t been edited at all

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In the current digital age, you rarely see things that stop you in your tracks and stun you with just how incredible they are.

After all with Photoshop and now AI it’s hard to tell just how much a photograph or a video has been manipulated but a recent picture from a photographer in Japan has restored our faith in the beauty and the miracles of the world.

Kenichi Ohno from the Saitama Prefecture in the Kantō region of Honshu, which is part of the greater-Tokyo area, snapped a photo of an egret bird wading in the shallow waters of a river bank and entered it into the 39th Japanese Nature Photo contest hosted by the All-Japan Association of Photographic Societies.

While it sounds fairly ordinary it was actually the composition of the image which truly wowed people. At first glance, the bird appears to have been imposed on two different backgrounds: a blue and an orange one with a very defined line down the middle. Appropriately the photo is named ‘Gap.’

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However, there has been no tampering or editing of this photo as it is merely a trick of natural lighting and a conveniently placed wall that is causing the confusion. To explain, the reflection of the light on the wall is causing the orange glow on the reflection of the water but the reflection is only on that side of the water, causing the juxtaposition with the blue of the water.

Does that make sense? Regardless it hasn’t stopped the incredible image from going viral on social media with people stunned at how Ohno managed to achieve such beauty.

The jury at the AJAPS singled it out as one of the best of the 5,600 images entered into the contest, complimenting it as “a strange photo with a strong impact.”

They added: “It is interesting that we cannot immediately understand how it was taken. It is one that was taken because of the windless conditions. It shows us that the slightest difference can make a big difference in a photograph. It is difficult to photograph nature when man-made objects enter the picture, but in this case, they play a good supporting role and enhance the picture.”

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10 Action In Nature Quick Tips

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© Outdoor Photographer


As you know, nature photography isn’t easy. Most of us get excited when we simply see wildlife or a gorgeous landscape. But simply seeing it isn’t why we photograph. We lug our gear and tripods, travel great distances and keep crazy hours because we want the perfect shot. The number of times we encounter perfection is few and far between. But we don’t despair—if perfection isn’t achieved, we persist, head back out and try again. The lure is the challenge. We keep trying because it’s what we love to do. In this week’s tip, I present 10 of my top criteria toward which we should strive to capture action.

Nature photography is rewarding. It’s wonderful to capture a great portrait in early or late light yet as gear gets better and more photographers accomplish this feat, it’s time to raise the bar. The way I suggest you do this is to seek great action, movement and various forms of motion in your images. To capture nature “doing something” brings the image to the next level. This being said, the rules and guidelines of a perfect wildlife portrait still apply. Just because a photographer captures a photo that depicts locomotion doesn’t excuse poor technique.






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1. Backgrounds, Mergers And The Decisive Moment

In the image of the two upright bear cubs, I point to the position of the two mouths, the out-of-focus background and the instant at which the image was made. The faces draw in the viewer—be aware the key parts of each mouth are separated by blue. If they merged, the image wouldn’t have the same impact. Secondly, note the background is out of focus in comparison to their feet. I used a long lens and wide-open aperture. Third, the moment at which the shutter fired was when both bear’s faces were perpendicular to me—not turned away. It’s important the viewer sees facial features and expressions.






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2. Get Low And Freeze the Action

The photo of the avocet and reflection was made on my belly while I laid on the grass. The low angle put the subject and me on the same level. To “look down” on an animal tells the viewer the subject has inferior status. I also used a high shutter speed in conjunction with a wide aperture to freeze all movement. It was important the bird remained perpendicular to maintain sharpness throughout. When the avocet dipped its bill into the water, I began to fire the shutter. This frame was the best.






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3. Edge Of Light, Motor Drive

Good light is extremely important. There are ways to utilize it that are special. Note that the egret is about to walk into the shade. Whenever possible, use “the edge of light” to enhance your images. I had my motor drive set to high (10 fps) to make sure I captured the exact moment. High-speed drive is basically a given when action photos are the goal.

4. Panning

The key to panning is to sharply render the most important feature of the subject. If everything is soft, the photo becomes totally abstract rather than looking like the photographer wanted to intentionally reveal exaggerated motion. It often takes many frames to get one good panning image. Don’t give up. The speed at which the subject moves dictates the approximate shutter speed. Every situation is different, so experiment and keep good notes.






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5a. Abstract Scenic Blurs

Impart motion to stationary subjects. In the top image of the lodgepole pine trunks, I placed my camera on a tripod with a pan and tilt head. I stopped down the aperture to ƒ/22 to cover the depth of field and to obtain a slow exposure of 1 second. For the bottom image, I loosened the knob that allows the head to pan vertically. During the 1 second exposure, I slowly moved the head upward using very fluid motion.






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5b. Multiple Exposures

Another scenic technique that shows movement in partly stationary subjects is to use multiple exposures. For the seascape, I set the camera to 10 exposures over a three-second duration. The camera’s technology factored in the exposure, so it was easy. It allowed for more action in the ocean waves. It was low tide and calm, so I made the water more active using the multiple exposures feature.






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6. Aperture And Focus Point Importance

The blackbird was photographed with a 400mm at ƒ/4. The magnification was extreme, so my focus had to be absolutely critical. At ƒ/4 and 400mm, the focus is very shallow when close to a subject. I set the focus point to Dynamic and Continuous so it would stay on the face of the bird if it moved. When it began calling, the focus point followed the eye, so even though it was centered when the bird was at rest, the focus point followed it when it moved.






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7. Shoot Wide

Animal images don’t have to be made with long lenses. As a matter of fact, I encourage you to try something other than the norm. In the image of the sunset and pelican, I used a wider-than-normal lens to take in the entire scene. As the pelican flew in and out, I stayed on the motor drive and was happy with where the bird appeared in this photo—no merger with the clouds in the background.






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8. Pre And Follow Focus

We spotted a leopard in a tree and hoped it would climb down in late light to begin to hunt. We were thrilled when it became active as the sun began to lower. I present this image to point out the importance of beginning to follow focus before the subject gets to the optimum point of action and after once it does. Before allows the focus to lock on and after is important in case the subject continues to do something great.






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9. Odd Number And Storm Light

In number three above, I mentioned the importance of dramatic light. One of the conditions in which I could photograph all the time is storm light. I was in Bosque del Apache for the winter arrival of snow geese and suddenly, clouds rolled in toward sunset. As some of the geese took flight, a small window opened and the birds flew into patches of sun. Another important aspect when you make photos of multiple subjects is to seek out odd numbers. I love to include either three or five. It keeps the viewer engaged looking around the entire photo. With an even number of subjects, the viewer unconsciously goes back and forth between the two, four or six animals while with odd numbers of subjects, viewers unconsciously create visual flow.






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10. Display Behavior

When animals hunt and/or feed, action is high. As often as possible, try to seek this behavior and capture it early or late light in the day when the light is optimum. It’s easier said than done, so be persistent. Get familiar with the subject you intend to photograph to try to predict when it will move, walk, run, hunt, etc. Lastly, know your gear inside out so you don’t fumble over controls when the action is peak. Unfortunately, the animals won’t provide a “take two” if you miss it.

A photographer may encounter beginner’s luck and come across one or more of the above situations early in their career, but as time goes on, each will discover they were blessed that day. That day will be more and more appreciated as time goes on. Be persistent and stay at it. After all, it is all about the challenge.

Feel free to explore more of my photography at my website: www.russburdenphotography.com or visit my SmugMug page: https://russburden.smugmug.com.

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Unraveling Nature’s Complexity with Molecular Imaging

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In this interview conducted at Pittcon 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we spoke to Ron Heeren, a speaker at the 2023 James L. Waters Symposium.

Please could you introduce yourself, and tell us about your personal background and what first attracted you to this field?

I am Ron Heeren, a distinguished professor of molecular imaging at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. I am also the director of the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging Institute. I was trained as a physicist, then developed a career in biochemistry, and now I am teaching in a medical center.

I have always wondered about the complexity of nature. One of my heroes, Richard Feynman, once said that you have to stop and think about it to really appreciate nature’s complexity; the inconceivable nature of nature.

I love that quote because it describes what triggered me to go into science: to satisfy my curiosity and understand the complexity of the world around me. The beauty of molecular imaging is that it does precisely that. It shows the inconceivable complexity of nature on a microscope slide.

What is secondary ion mass spectrometry?

The field I am engaging in is molecular imaging using mass spectrometry. There are essentially two ways of generating images with a mass spectrometer. The first is firing lasers at a surface to evaporate and ionize molecules, then analyzing them in the mass spectrometer. The second uses an ion beam, where a primary ion generates secondary ions that are then analyzed by a mass spectrometer.

The latter is the field of secondary ion mass spectrometry. In my work, we use both in concert because each technology has complementary features. The beauty of SIMS is that it can achieve spatial resolutions, such as no other technique in imaging mass spectrometry.

What is molecular imaging more broadly and what are its advantages?

Molecular imaging is a form of molecular photography where we take snapshots of the molecules on highly complex surfaces, such as tissue sections or biopsies of cancer patients, solar cells, or even leaves with microbes growing on them, and we try to visualize them.

Image Credit: SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com

Image Credit: SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com

Molecular imaging produces a map or a photograph of the spatial location of the molecules combined with the identity of the molecules themselves.

How can secondary ion mass spectrometry be employed in molecular imaging?

The beauty of secondary ion mass spectrometry is its incredible spatial resolution. These ion beams can be focused down to an extremely small spot, down to 50 nanometers. With molecular imaging, we can generate very small pixels, which provides an insight into what is going on in a single cell in the context of a complete tissue.

Essentially, SIMS brings very high spatial resolution. One added advantage is that we can study an individual single cell, layer by layer, and create a three-dimensional map of all molecules in that single cell.

In what medical fields can advances in digital molecular pathology have an impact?

Molecular imaging is entering digital pathology, a pathologist looking at digital images rather than through a microscope. As molecular imaging using mass spectrometers generates digital images, they can be shared easily with the pathologist.

They can be layered on top of the optical images that they already have. Now, the pathologist can augment how they look at the problem with molecular information. One example is detecting tumor cells in biopsy tissue. We can look at tissue sections from cartilage from damaged knees to understand the healing process and design new drugs.

We can look at pharmaceutical and animal models, where we observe where the drug ends up, how it is metabolized, and if it has an effect. These are all problems in a spatial context. These technologies can be applied with a gold star in biomedicine and pharmaceutical research.

How can innovative imaging technologies offer new insights into life’s complexity?

We see these images in more molecular detail as our mass spectrometers improve. Some of these molecular changes that trigger a disease process or that people want to interfere with when designing a new drug (to circumvent a disease) are related to minute molecular changes.

Modern mass spectrometers enable us to see things like isomeric species. This lipid has a double bond very close to the glycerol backbone or very far away, two very different structures. We can now visualize where that structure differs in a tissue or cell.

Image Credit: Intothelight Photography/Shutterstock.com

Image Credit: Intothelight Photography/Shutterstock.com

Mass spectrometry imaging can unravel this complexity at spatial and molecular detail levels. We can look at the identity of a molecule, where the molecule is in the cell, where that cell is in a piece of tissue, and where that tissue comes from in a patient. This enables the description of the entire translational imaging chain.

The 34th James L. Waters Symposium highlights the development, commercial construction, and recent advances in instrumentation and its applications. What are some of the recent advancements in secondary ion mass spectrometry?

The James L. Waters Symposium highlights instrumentation advances, such as targeted pathology, where people use labeled antibodies to observe targeted proteome processes in detail. Another technology presented that we worked on is using a detector from CERN in the molecular pathology field to accelerate the rate at which we can generate these images.

We would take perhaps a hundred to a thousand pixels per second on a typical commercial instrument. Each pixel corresponds to the mass spectrum. These new detectors from CERN enable the acquisition of a millions of pixels per second, so we are very close to achieving our current goal of scanning one tissue slide in one minute.

This will be perfectly in sync with the pathology workflow. Our molecular imaging technologies with SIMS and CERN would seamlessly fit into the digital pathology workflow.

How important is it to understand the history of the important contributions and cooperations in this field?

The importance of history cannot be stressed enough because we all stand on the shoulders of giants. One of the approaches that we are still working with was developed in the 1960s, but now we have leapfrogged away with all the new technologies that were not available back then, but the basic ideas remain the same.

These early ideas are now accelerating because of all the new available technologies. This symposium beautifully highlighted that as it brought together all these different elements: instrumentation, engineering, application in the clinic, targeted pathology, and the history on which it all was based.

What are the current challenges within the secondary ion mass spectrometry-based molecular imaging field?

One of our biggest challenges is the sheer amount of data we produce. One aspect of this is data storage, as we are obliged by law to keep patient data for up to 15 years. If I generate three terabytes in 10 minutes and store it for 10 or 15 years, then my storage bill will outweigh my electricity bill very quickly.

Researchers are looking into smarter solutions for storing data, maybe only acquiring relevant data to reduce the amount of data we generate.

Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

The other aspect is what we do with the data and how we interpret it. We have a million spectra per second; no human mind could go through these spectra individually. We need more innovative artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural network tools to explore the data and find the relevant information we seek to understand the complexity of health and disease.

How do you hope your work will help overcome some of the challenges you mentioned?

I am afraid my work will only worsen those two challenges because we are generating more data in a shorter time. However, while we are doing that, we also face these challenges. We have many bioinformaticians that we collaborate with to tackle those problems using machine learning and neural networks.

I think my team’s contribution to this field is that we see that to solve these challenges, we need researchers from many different disciplines. It is not just the tool we develop to solve data analysis challenges but how to collaborate across the boundaries of disciplines.

This is one thing that imaging mass spectrometry excels at because there is the fundamental side, instrumentation, application development, and data handling. They all have to come together. Our contribution is bringing these people together in the institute around the appropriate infrastructure to tackle these challenges.

What are you currently working on that you are particularly excited about?

One project we are excited about is single-cell imaging using our CERN-based detector to build libraries of molecular profiles of immune cells and then automatically recognize these cells in a piece of tissue.

This allows us to understand how the metabolic phenotype of an immune cell changes in the presence of a tumor and as a response to the distance to the tumor. So much more complexity is yet to be discovered and understood, which will significantly contribute to that.

About Professor Ron Heeran

Prof. Dr. Ron M.A. Heeren obtained a PhD degree in technical physics in 1992 at the University of Amsterdam on plasma-surface interactions. He started to work on molecular imaging instrumentation and its application as a research group leader at FOM-AMOLF, Amsterdam. In 2001, he became professor at the chemistry faculty of Utrecht University lecturing on the physical aspects of biomolecular mass spectrometry. In 2014 he started as distinguished professor and Limburg Chair at Maastricht University. He is the founder and scientific director of M4I, the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute on the Brightlands Maastricht Health campus. He was awarded the prestigious 2019 Physics Valorization prize by the Dutch organization for scientific Research, NWO and the 2020 Thomson medal of the international mass spectrometry foundation. In 2021 he was elected as a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences, KNAW. His academic research interests are mass spectrometry based personalized medicine, translational molecular imaging and “omics” research, high-throughput bioinformatics and the development and validation of innovative molecular analytical imaging techniques across the scientific disciplines. 

About Pittcon

Pittcon is the world’s largest annual premier conference and exposition on laboratory science. Pittcon attracts more than 16,000 attendees from industry, academia and government from over 90 countries worldwide.

Their mission is to sponsor and sustain educational and charitable activities for the advancement and benefit of scientific endeavor.

Pittcon’s target audience is not just “analytical chemists,” but all laboratory scientists — anyone who identifies, quantifies, analyzes or tests the chemical or biological properties of compounds or molecules, or who manages these laboratory scientists.

Having grown beyond its roots in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy, Pittcon has evolved into an event that now also serves a diverse constituency encompassing life sciences, pharmaceutical discovery and QA, food safety, environmental, bioterrorism and other emerging markets.

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Photo Of The Week: Nature Calling

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FLORIDA — Phone cameras make it so easy to capture great moments any day, any time. Have you taken some photos of flowers in bloom, children frolicking at the beach, breathtaking sunsets, dramatic skylines or a funny photo of the family dogs plunging into the backyard swimming pool?

The Florida Patch sites publish a collection of Photos of the Week each weekend sent in by readers.

Whether you snapped an amazing shot with your smartphone or spent hours capturing the decisive moment on a Nikon D6, send your photos to Tampa Bay Patch editor D’Ann White at [email protected] with the location of the photo and the name of the photographer. You might see your photo featured on Patch.



Sue Gould "This was taken on Honeymoon Island yesterday. We noticed a cormorant who was not very responsive, sleeping some of the time and not moving when we got close to him. We ran into a ranger right afterward who said he was “drunk” on red tide, basically a toxic reaction. They had been trying to catch him for a few days to be rehabilitated and were on the way to get him.


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Sue Gould “This was taken on Honeymoon Island yesterday. We noticed a cormorant who was not very responsive, sleeping some of the time and not moving when we got close to him. We ran into a ranger right afterward who said he was “drunk” on red tide, basically a toxic reaction. They had been trying to catch him for a few days to be rehabilitated and were on the way to get him.



Pam OraPam Ora took this photo of bees on a sunflower at the Dunedin Fine Art Center Garden Party.


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Pam OraPam Ora took this photo of bees on a sunflower at the Dunedin Fine Art Center Garden Party.

The article Photo Of The Week: Nature Calling appeared first on Tampa Patch.

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Princess Eugenie Shares Rare Photo of Her Son August on Instagram

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To celebrate Earth Day, Princess Eugenie took to Instagram to share some sweet family photographs — including a rare picture of her sister Princess Beatrice’s daughter, Sienna.

The first image in her six-slide carousel on Instagram is a snap of her son, August Brooksbank, looking at penguins with his cousin, Sienna Mapelli Mozzi. “August and his cousin Sienna love going to the London Zoo,” Eugenie wrote. “It’s part of the Zoological Society of London, a global wildlife conservation charity that helps to restore habitats and protect wildlife. Every time you visit you are supporting their work.”

This photo of Sienna comes just a day after eagle-eyed fans spotted what appears to be a picture of the royal baby in the background of a portrait taken by Kate Middleton of Queen Elizabeth and many of her great-grandchildren and grandchildren.

sienna mapelli mozzi

Could this be Sienna and her dad, Edo Mapelli Mozzi?Courtesy Kensington Palace

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo have not yet shared any photos publicly of their daughter. This makes Princess Eugenie’s Instagram post all the more notable: She must’ve gotten the go ahead from her sister.

Elsewhere in Eugenie’s Earth day post, she has two photos of her son August at BBC Earth Experience, “dedicated to the BBC’s Natural History Unit’s footage of our earth. Their vision is to inspire visitors to protect the planet through this immersive experience,” and photos of herself volunteering with Blue Marine Foundation.

The last picture Eugenie posted shows her husband Jack with their son and their dog, “Because I love them and they love nature.”

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Originally published

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This Iconic Hawaiian Resort Is a Must for Travelers Who Want To Connect With Nature

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For 29 years, the word “Hawaii” had been synonymous to me with hula dancers and pink umbrella drinks. I had heard the Aloha State was the ultimate tropical getaway from friends and colleagues, with postcard-perfect views of the ocean, breezy palm trees, and surfing galore. Hawaii was a place to relax and unwind, preferably on a sandy beach with a piña colada in hand. And that’s exactly what I was after.

But my stay at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was less about getting a tan and more about catching up with Mother Nature. Tucked away on the pristine Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, the iconic resort has been a relaxing retreat for travelers for more than five decades. It’s still paradise, but it’s also a place for guests to connect with nature and to learn about the Big Island and its native Hawaiians.

In more recent years, the resort has ramped up its sustainability and cultural initiatives, allowing guests to study and preserve the islands’ rich culture (and, more importantly, acknowledge its devastating colonial past) while honoring its local flora and fauna. Not to sound cliche, but it really is so much more than a luau (although Mauna Kea does have one every Tuesday night that’s reportedly pretty epic.) If you’re after a tropical vacation that’ll get you back to nature (with the occasional tropical cocktail, of course) the resort should be top of your travel list. Find my favorite nature adventures, below.



Sunset over the bay. Photo: Author


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Sunset over the bay. Photo: Author

A little about Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Mauna Kea resort is a historical gem—it was the first resort to ever be built on the Big Island. Constructed by venture capitalist and conservationist Laurance S. Rockefeller in 1965, Mauna Kea is renowned for its modern, open-air concept and architectural aesthetic, much of which incorporates natural, native elements throughout the space, such as lush, tropical foliage and exposed lava rock. It’s also home to a 1,600-piece art collection with artifacts and artwork from around the Pacific Rim, including a 700-year-old Buddha from Thailand that sits under a Bodhi tree in the hotel’s garden. Some pieces are under glass, but most are on display as-is, true to the open-air concept that’s woven throughout the resort’s lobbies and restaurants. The resort’s received numerous architectural awards since opening nearly 60 years ago, and was inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in 2016.

The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel joined Marriott Autograph Collection Hotels in 2015 and shares coastline with its sister resort, the Westin Hapuna Beach. Both are stunning but have two very different feels: Mauna Kea has that touch of ’60s flair and feels more like a boutique hotel, while the Westin is gorgeous, too, but definitely has a more corporate, polished vibe to it. No matter where you stay, you can eat, play, and relax at both resorts—a true two-for-the-price-of-one deal.

My favorite nature experiences at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Night swimming with manta rays

Of all the experiences at Mauna Kea, its manta ray swim is arguably its piece de resistance. There are three recognized sites where you can swim with these magnificent animals along the Kona coast, and one of them happens to be Mauna Kea’s front yard: the stunning Kauna’oa Bay. Here, the husband-and-wife dive duo, Martina and James Wing, operate Manta Ray Advocates and take guests to get up close and personal with these gentle giants as they “dance” and feed on plankton underneath the moonlight.

Yes, moonlight—all of the swims are held at night after the sun goes down. This is the time when the rays come into the bay to feed on zooplankton, which are illuminated by lights divers hold. Each evening, the rays swoop and spin while they filter tasty, microscopic aquatic organisms into their ginormous bucket mouths. They’re totally gentle—they don’t have teeth or barbs, so they can’t harm you in any way. And they are incredible to be in the water with.

I dived with these friendly rays the first night I arrived at Mauna Kea. I had literally just landed four hours before and was completely jet-lagged after a long day of traveling. Exhausted, my swim-mates and I made our way down to beach to meet Marina, who greeted us with a snorkel, mask, life jacket, and flippers. Once suited up, we waddled out (flippers on, to avoid them floating away in the surf) into the waves with our guide, James, who was carried a pool noodle and a flashlight for each of us. A few minutes later, we had arrived to the spot (just 20–25 feet offshore, not far at all) where we were invited to hang on to said pool noodle and float on our bellies with our faces in the water to enjoy the show below.



A reef manta ray swims past. Photo: Manta Ray Advocates


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A reef manta ray swims past. Photo: Manta Ray Advocates

As I ducked my head into the water, any jet-lag or fatigue that was weighing me down instantly disappeared. Beneath us were eight to 10 angel-like manta rays feasting on zooplankton and putting on the greatest show I have ever seen. Some were smaller, two to three feet in width, while others were huge; One impressive big guy was five-feet wide, wing to wing.”That’s Jolene Ray,” James said as he pointed below. “That’s Obama Ray.”

Turns out, manta rays are spectacular dancers. I watched in awe as they swooped and swirled within literal inches of my face. (Note: They get close! You’re not supposed to touch them, but sometimes they inadvertently touch you.) It felt like time had stopped—I was hypnotized by these gorgeous sea creatures, entranced as they”flew” beneath us in a synchronized underwater ballet of sorts.

The water was a bit rough that night, so we were only able to float for about 30 minutes. But to this day, those 30 minutes are some of the favorite minutes of my life—and that’s not an exaggeration. To be that close to manta rays—a threatened species from overfishing and ocean pollution—was humbling. The Wings are incredibly passionate about their jobs and keeping the rays and their habitat safe and sustainable, which many eco-tourism operators don’t do. The manta ray swim is worth a trip to Kauna’oa Bay on its own, whether you stay at the Mauna Kea or not.

Beekeeping and honey tasting

Landlubbers who may be hesitant to splash around in the water can catch a nature-y “buzz” on land. Both Mauna Kea and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort work with the state’s Apiary Program to cultivate honeybees, which provide pollination for the local environment. Guests who want to sweeten their trip can tour the on-site apiaries (places where beekeepers keep bees and manage their hives) and perform a “bee wellness check” with the resort’s resident beekeeper.

Yes, a bee wellness check, because earth’s greatest pollinators need some TLC, too! To check on our buzzy friends, I joined Mauna Kea’s Director of Sales and Marketing Brad Doell (who was subbing in for the resident beekeeper) in the resort’s gardens where we suited up in proper beekeeping attire, mask and all. Then, we made our way to the apiaries, or bee boxes, to perform our “wellness check.”

Doell explained each hive was home to hundreds (if not thousands) of bees, including one very important queen whom the worker bees will protect at all cost. We were there to clean the hives, which can get gunky from propolis, a waxy substance used to line their nests, and check for honey, which, unfortunately, was not quite ready to be harvested.



Doell (left) and the author (right) perform a wellness check on the bees.


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Doell (left) and the author (right) perform a wellness check on the bees.

I was handed a smoker to “soothe” the worker bees so Doell could safely scrape off chunks of propolis and ensure the hives were in tip-top shape for our buzzy lil’ friends. I had never been this close to so many bees before, and it was wild to see their behaviors change from alarmed and defensive (they want to protect their queen from intruders, after all) to soothed and relaxed with just a few puffs of smoke.

Once they chilled out a bit, I was able to take a good look into the center of the hive, which was fascinating. So many bees, with such regimented roles in their own, micro-society, which seems small but has a huge impact on the natural world. Both wild and domestic honey bees pollinate 80 percent of all flowering plants worldwide, which includes $15 billion worth of American crops each year. Losing these busy bugs could put our food chain at risk, wiping out fruit and vegetable ecosystems that humans and animals rely on.

Once everything was fresh and clean, Doell gifted me a jar of Mauna Hea honey that had been harvested a few weeks before—another delicious parting gift from Earth’s greatest pollinators.

Snorkeling

Being the quintessential Cancerian water sign that I am, I spent most of my down time in the crystal-clear surf at both Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. Every chance I got, I’d grab a snorkel and fins (both are free for guests) and unwind with a bit of ocean therapy, exploring the reefs and rocky coves along the shoreline. On my way I met a rainbow of reef creatures, stunning corals, schools of fish, and even a gentle sea turtle whom I swam along with for 15 minutes. (Another few of the all-time best minutes of my life.)



My new sea turtle friend. Photo: Author


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My new sea turtle friend. Photo: Author

Again, I know snorkeling with sea creatures isn’t for everyone. But if you’re there, I do recommend giving it a try. Being in and around the water is scientifically proven to soothe our psyche, putting us into a “blue mindset“—a mild, meditative state that leads to feelings of happiness, relaxation, and connection to nature. Meeting a friendly sea turtle or angelfish along your journey is just the cherry on top.

Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

Both the Mauna Kea and Westin Hapuna Beach share a coastline along the historic Ala Kahakai trail, a network of footpaths protected to preserve culturally significant Native Hawaiian land. This “trail by the sea” was once part of the ala loa, or the “long trail,” with remnants that date back to when Polynesians first settled Hawaii centuries ago. It encompasses 175 miles around the island, including the 2.7-mile out-and-back trail connecting Mauna Kea to Hapuna Beach.



Views from the trail. Photo: Author


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Views from the trail. Photo: Author

From Mauna Kea, you can go south to Hapuna Beach or north, which goes for about two miles up to the Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. Short on time one evening, I decided to go left over to Hapuna Beach for a sunset walk. The views are epic—I walked along the rocky coastline, up over lava rock and down into coves where I could see my snorkeling spots from above. It’s pretty rocky, so you’ll definitely want to wear hiking boots or trail sneakers, but otherwise, it’s a fairly mild, 20–30 minute hike, depending on how fast you walk.

If you do decide to go north, expect a variety of surfaces, from sandy beaches to jagged, otherworldly lava rock, so dress accordingly. Whatever route you choose, stay on the trail and pack out what you pack in—as mentioned, it’s all culturally historic land meant to be preserved for generations to come, so be respectful.

Preview the Kahakai National Historic Trail on Alltrails.

E Ala E

The trip concluded with a traditional E Ala E chant led by the resort’s cultural ambassador, Healani Kimitete-Ah Mow. Each morning, Kimitete-Ah Mow and other “Aloha Ambassadors” stand on the beach to welcome the sun, honor the land, and set intentions for the day. This traditional Hawaiian oli, or chant, (which translates into “awaken”) is sung into the east just as the sun is rising, each “e ala e” calling the sun higher and higher until it passes over the horizon. It’s a moment for reflection and gratitude, to show your respect for the land and the ancestors who came before us. And it’s powerful.



Kimitete-Ah Mow leads the e ala e chant. Photo: Mauna Kea


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Kimitete-Ah Mow leads the e ala e chant. Photo: Mauna Kea

After the chant, Kimitete-Ah Mow instructed us to go pick leaves from the native naupaka shrub behind us, one for every loved one—alive and dead—we wanted to honor that day. While we meditated on our friends and family members, we walked into the sea and, eventually, gave our leaves to the ocean, an offering for protection and guidance.

After sending my leaves out to sea, I lowered my body underneath the water to “purify” myself for the day. Then, I walked out of the ocean backwards (Kimitete-Ah Mow said to never turn your back on the ocean after giving an offering) before finishing the experience with a meditative walk on the beach. As I strolled along the shore, I thought about my leaves floating out to sea and felt more present and more connected to the earth than I had when I arrived. Traveling—especially to a place as ancient and exploited as Hawaii—can often feel so extractive. The morning ritual was a brief, grounding moment to give back to the land and spirit of the island, which was the perfect ending for my trip.

For more information about Mauna Kea’s accommodations and pricing, visit its website here. You can also book your entire trip through Expedia.

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Stunning symmetrical kites image wins Nature Photographer of the Year

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Silke Hüttche has just been announced as the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 for her image Scene of a Marriage. The annual photography competition is run by the German Society for Nature Photography exclusively for society members. This year, nearly 7,000 images were submitted from 424 members across 13 countries, and more women than ever entered. 

The GDT Nature Photographer of the Year is split into seven categories: birds, mammals, other animals, plants and fungi, landscapes, nature’s studio, and urban nature. There was also a Prize of the Jury, awarded to Dominik Jaschka for his image Beyond which captured a double exposure image at Saxon National Park in Switzerland. 

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Studio Gang Delivers Architecture Inspired by Nature at the American Museum of Natural History in New York

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Studio Gang Delivers Architecture Inspired by Nature at the American Museum of Natural History in New York | Architectural Record




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The breathtaking winning images from the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 contest

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From a ‘smiling’ crocodile to an incredible multicoloured iceberg: Breathtaking winning images from a prestigious nature photography contest

By Ailbhe Macmahon For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

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The natural world can mesmerise, startle and take the breath away, as the images here show.

These astonishing photos have been honoured in the German Association for Nature Photography (GDT) Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 competition, which saw nearly 7,000 entries flood in from 13 countries.

Among the entries to capture the attention of the judges is a dynamic shot of a ‘smiling’ crocodile off the coast of Cuba, a dark and moody picture of an iceberg in Greenland and a hypnotising portrait of an owl.

However, it’s a cleverly framed photograph of a pair of kites – birds of prey – symmetrically perched on opposing sides of a telegraph pole that claims the top prize, earning photographer Silke Huttche the title of GDT Nature Photographer of the Year.

Notably, the German photographer is only the second woman to be named the overall winner in the contest’s 51-year history. The contest’s organisers say that this is ‘a good sign that the historically male-dominated genre of nature photography is increasingly reflecting society in a more realistic way’.

Below is a handful of the magnificent winning and commended nature photographs from the awards. Scroll down to the very bottom to see the photograph that’s been named the cream of the crop…

This eye-catching picture, ranking sixth in the 'Other Animals' category, shows two American crocodiles in the mangroves of the Jardines de la Reina archipelago off the coast of mainland Cuba. Titled 'Smile', it's the work of photographer Laura Becker

This eye-catching picture, ranking sixth in the ‘Other Animals’ category, shows two American crocodiles in the mangroves of the Jardines de la Reina archipelago off the coast of mainland Cuba. Titled ‘Smile’, it’s the work of photographer Laura Becker

Landing in sixth place in the 'Mammals' category, this stunning shot by photographer Barbara Kaltenborn shows a polar bear with her cub on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard

Landing in sixth place in the ‘Mammals’ category, this stunning shot by photographer Barbara Kaltenborn shows a polar bear with her cub on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard

Topping the podium in the 'Landscapes' category, this mesmerising picture by Britta Strack shows the 'mystical' Pasterze Glacier at the foot of Austria's Grossglockner mountain

Topping the podium in the ‘Landscapes’ category, this mesmerising picture by Britta Strack shows the ‘mystical’ Pasterze Glacier at the foot of Austria’s Grossglockner mountain

A blackbird is silhouetted by the moon in this beautiful shot, which ranks sixth in the 'Birds' category. Photographer Anton Trexler says that it shows the 'melancholy of the threshold between day and night'

A blackbird is silhouetted by the moon in this beautiful shot, which ranks sixth in the ‘Birds’ category. Photographer Anton Trexler says that it shows the ‘melancholy of the threshold between day and night’

Taking the bronze medal in the 'Urban Nature' category, this brilliant picture by Anton Trexler shows a gecko inside a lantern in Spain

Taking the bronze medal in the ‘Urban Nature’ category, this brilliant picture by Anton Trexler shows a gecko inside a lantern in Spain

This hypnotising close-up of an owl is the work of photographer Karsten Mosebach. The portrait ranks third in the 'Birds' category

This hypnotising close-up of an owl is the work of photographer Karsten Mosebach. The portrait ranks third in the ‘Birds’ category 

This magnificent shot of a roe deer under a full moon was taken before sunrise at the edge of a nature reserve in the State of Brandenburg, Germany. Captured by photographer Andreas Geh, it ranks in eighth place in the 'Mammals' category

Describing this evocative shot, photographer Andy Schmid says: 'A male orca turns his back on the camera in a dark and cold fjord in northern Norway, but leaves positive energy behind.' The image takes ninth place in the 'Mammals' category

LEFT: This magnificent shot of a roe deer under a full moon was taken before sunrise at the edge of a nature reserve in the State of Brandenburg, Germany. Captured by photographer Andreas Geh, it ranks in eighth place in the ‘Mammals’ category.  RIGHT: Describing this evocative shot, photographer Andy Schmid says: ‘A male orca turns his back on the camera in a dark and cold fjord in northern Norway, but leaves positive energy behind.’ The image takes ninth place in the ‘Mammals’ category

This spellbinding picture of a drifting iceberg in Greenland has been captured by photographer Scott Portelli. He notes that 'intertwined layers of ice reveal vivid black, blue and translucent plains' within the iceberg. The shot is placed eighth in the 'Landscapes' category

This spellbinding picture of a drifting iceberg in Greenland has been captured by photographer Scott Portelli. He notes that ‘intertwined layers of ice reveal vivid black, blue and translucent plains’ within the iceberg. The shot is placed eighth in the ‘Landscapes’ category

Photographer Peter Lindel notes that the 'cloud of haze' in this picture is not the breath of the lion that's pictured, but rather 'the body heat of the just-killed zebra' in the centre of the frame. The shot ranks tenth in the 'Mammals' category

Photographer Peter Lindel notes that the ‘cloud of haze’ in this picture is not the breath of the lion that’s pictured, but rather ‘the body heat of the just-killed zebra’ in the centre of the frame. The shot ranks tenth in the ‘Mammals’ category

Recalling taking this transfixing portrait of a female elephant, Peter Lindel says: 'The matriarch cow kept an eye on us until the last member of her small group had passed us.' The image takes the silver medal in the 'Mammals' category

Recalling taking this transfixing portrait of a female elephant, Peter Lindel says: ‘The matriarch cow kept an eye on us until the last member of her small group had passed us.’ The image takes the silver medal in the ‘Mammals’ category

Captured in the autumn, this breathtaking shot shows fog descending over the Vosges Mountains in France during the sunrise. Taken by photographer Radomir Jakubowski, the image - titled 'Autumn Fog Inferno' - takes second place in the 'Landscapes' category

Captured in the autumn, this breathtaking shot shows fog descending over the Vosges Mountains in France during the sunrise. Taken by photographer Radomir Jakubowski, the image – titled ‘Autumn Fog Inferno’ – takes second place in the ‘Landscapes’ category

This dynamic shot shows a mouse 'taking a short break from foraging at night on the ledge of an old and dusty cellar window'. Ranking sixth in the 'Urban Nature' category, it's the work of photographer Maximilian Fellermann

This dynamic shot shows a mouse ‘taking a short break from foraging at night on the ledge of an old and dusty cellar window’. Ranking sixth in the ‘Urban Nature’ category, it’s the work of photographer Maximilian Fellermann

This is the shot that has won Silke Huttche the title of GDT Nature Photographer of the Year. Huttche, who lives in the German city of Wuppertal, says: 'Every time I pass this electricity pole I take a look up for there is always some kind of bird sitting there. As was the case on this somewhat dull day when I glanced up and spotted the kite sitting there on the one end. Shortly after a second one [settled] on the opposite end. This was getting exciting – were the two a pair or rivals? They just seemed to have nothing to say to each other and kept looking in opposite directions.' Huttche titled the shot 'Scenes of a Marriage'. It also takes the top prize in the 'Urban Nature' category

This is the shot that has won Silke Huttche the title of GDT Nature Photographer of the Year. Huttche, who lives in the German city of Wuppertal, says: ‘Every time I pass this electricity pole I take a look up for there is always some kind of bird sitting there. As was the case on this somewhat dull day when I glanced up and spotted the kite sitting there on the one end. Shortly after a second one [settled] on the opposite end. This was getting exciting – were the two a pair or rivals? They just seemed to have nothing to say to each other and kept looking in opposite directions.’ Huttche titled the shot ‘Scenes of a Marriage’. It also takes the top prize in the ‘Urban Nature’ category 

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Colorado Cops Investigating Photo Reportedly Shared by Rock-Throwing Suspect

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The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a chilling Facebook photo that was purportedly posted to the personal page of one of the Alexa Bartell rock-throwing suspects, which shows a sticker on a motorcycle that says: “JUST KILLED A WOMAN…FEELING GOOD.”

“The sheriff’s office is aware of this photo,” says a source in the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office. “It has been sent to the team…and will be something that they look at.”

The photo was posted last December on a Facebook page belonging to Joe Koenig, a senior at Ralston Valley High School. Police have identified one of the suspects in the April 26 rock-throwing incidents as Joseph Koenig of Arvada; he is now in custody.

There are no other Joe or Joseph Koenigs on Facebook listed as living in Arvada, Colorado. Posts on this page go as far back as 2017.

While police don’t know the exact origins of the photo, there are a few things that investigators are sure of: The photo has been sent to authorities by numerous people claiming to be close to Koenig; it was alarming enough to warrant a probe; and cops believe there are at least three ways it could have wound up on Koenig’s Facebook page: through a post made by a friend, a post made by a family member, or a post by Koenig himself.

Jeffco investigators are currently working to determine the photo’s relevance and whether it’s important to the case, according to the source.

The “JUST KILLED A WOMAN…FEELING GOOD” line is a term made famous by a YouTube and Twitch streamer named @TommyInnit, who uttered it after he killed a woman during a Minecraft gaming session. One clip of @TommyInnit saying the phrase has been viewed over one million times. 

click to enlarge The "JUST KILLED A WOMAN" photo that was purportedly posted to Alexa Bartell rock-throwing suspect Joseph Koenig's Facebook page.

Koenig appears to have posted the “JUST KILLED A WOMAN” photo himself.

Joe Koenig/Facebook

Eighteen-year-old Joseph Koenig was arrested at his home in Arvada sometime between late Tuesday, April 25, and early Wednesday, April 26. Eighteen-year-old Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik and eighteen-year-old Zachary Kwak were also taken into custody at their Arvada residences.

“All three are suspected of throwing rocks and all three are currently facing charges of First Degree Murder, Extreme Indifference,” said the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in an April 26 news release.

According to investigators, the trio of high-school seniors drove around in a black 2016 Chevy Silverado on the night of April 19 with a load of rocks taken from a Walmart. They targeted at least seven vehicles; twenty-year-old Bartell was fatally wounded by a rock that the teens allegedly threw at her car, smashing right through the windshield and sending the car off the road.

“Alexa’s vehicle was the last of a series of vehicles struck by large landscaping rocks in a spree that began shortly after 10 p.m. that night at 100th and Simms in Westminster,” the sheriff’s office reported.

The arrest affidavits for Koenig, Karol-Chik and Kwak include disturbing details about how they made a “blood brothers” oath after their April 19 crime spree — swearing to keep quiet. Before that, though, they allegedly returned to the scene of the Bartell attack and took a photo of her smashed-up windshield.

According to Jeffco DA spokesperson Brionna Boatright, authorities are looking into the possibility of more victims being out there. “The investigation into other similar incidents is ongoing,” she says.

Mugshots of the Alexa Bartell rock-throwing suspects Zachary Kwak, Nicholas Karol-Chik and Joseph Koenig.

Rock-throwing suspects Zachary Kwak, Nicholas Karol-Chik and Joseph Koenig.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

According to the arrest affidavit, Karol-Chik told cops that he and Koenig had been “involved in throwing objects since at least February on ten separate days.” So far, however, no other victims have come forward with reports of incidents before April 19.

“Just because the affidavit has been sent to the DA’s office and these guys just had their first court appearance doesn’t mean our investigation is complete,” says the sheriff’s office source. “It will continue for days and days, maybe longer. If we, over the course of our investigation, are able to determine that these guys are associated with additional cases — that may have initially gone unreported or we didn’t have suspect information — then we’ll add it to [the case] with additional reports.”

Adds the source: “It’s just incredibly disturbing. We have no history with this, we have not seen this before. It’s shocking and it’s devastating. It’s just horrible.”

Boatright confirms the unprecedented nature of the incidents. “Our office has never been presented with or made aware of any other deadly [road] incidents in Jefferson County,” she says.

Charges for Koenig, Karol-Chik and Kwak are expected to be officially filed on May 3 by the DA’s office. 



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