Knob Creek Naturalist

28/05/2026

Still learning my way around landscape photography, and I’m realizing it takes a different kind of patience than wildlife photography.

With wildlife, I’m usually waiting for a moment. With landscapes, I’m learning to slow down enough to really see the place.

These two images are from a creek that means a lot to me. The still-water scene is one of the swimming holes I grew up swimming in, so that one feels less like a photo and more like a memory. The second image is me experimenting more with long exposure, trying to let the movement of the water pull you into the scene.

I’m really enjoying this direction and trying to get better at showing the places that shape the way I see nature.

Which one do you prefer, the quiet swimming hole or the moving creek?

25/05/2026

Happy Memorial Day!

For me, today felt like an excellent day to get outside and spend some time in one of the places I love most.

I got up early this morning and headed to McDougal Lake, one of my favorite places on the planet. The sun only cooperated for about five minutes, but thankfully that was enough to capture a frame I really enjoyed.

There’s something special about seeing a familiar place in beautiful light. Hope you enjoy this little sunrise from LaRue County.

What’s one outdoor place near home that you never get tired of visiting?

24/05/2026

The Amphib-Inn had its first guests in the honeymoon suite.

24/05/2026

A little update on the Amphib-Inn. We have daily guests. This weekend we even had our first couple check into the honeymoon suite!

22/05/2026

21/05/2026

Rachel Fields said it best, "how do they see those things".

Osprey are truly some of the most remarkable birds to watch hunt. I caught this sequence about an hour after getting off work, and it still blows my mind how quickly it all happens. One second they’re circling high above the water, the next they’ve locked onto a fish most of us would never notice, folded their wings, and dropped like a stone.

Then somehow, at full speed, they hit the water feet first, grab hold with those incredible talons, and lift back out like it was easy. This one even got cocky and carried supper away one-handed.

**bCreekNaturalist

21/05/2026

I’ve been experimenting more with light lately.

These damselflies and dragonflies were photographed from the exact same spot while I was standing in one place, only about 3 minutes apart. I had been working the damselflies for a while, trying to use the dark water and small flashes of color to create that dramatic light-and-shadow look.

Then I shifted my attention to the dragonfly and noticed the wings catching the light in a completely different way. Same spot. Same small patch of water. Totally different feeling.

Almost all of this was done in camera. Sure, in a world of AI and heavy editing, you could probably create something similar after the fact. But a trained eye can usually tell when the light was forced instead of found.

And honestly, where’s the fun in that?

For me, the best part is standing there, slowing down, and watching the light change. A little blue against shadow. A shimmer of wings at the right angle. A tiny scene that changes completely depending on where the light lands.

Sometimes the subject is the animal. Sometimes the subject is the light.

20/05/2026

The importance of slowing down and simply observing.

That has been one of the harder lessons for me to learn, especially when you unexpectedly find yourself close to wildlife.

I was hiking along a slough in western Kentucky when I came across this raccoon. I was roughly 80 feet away when I first spotted it, so I slowly got down to the ground to photograph it as close to eye level as possible. Once I was in position, I stayed still and did my best to appear non-threatening -- not always easy when pointing a big lens at an animal.

As you can see from the sequence, at first the raccoon didn’t seem to notice me. Then it did. After a moment, it realized I wasn’t a threat and went right back to foraging.

Sometimes the best wildlife encounters happen when we stop trying to get closer and simply let the moment unfold.

**bCreekNaturalist

18/05/2026

Spring is in the air, and that means baby animals are here or on the way.

Friendly reminder to take care where you drive, ride, mow, and step. A tiny life could be right in your path.

Killdeer nest right on the ground, often in places that seem less than ideal to us, like gravel lots, driveways, and parking areas. Huge thanks to the kind souls who made sure this one has a little extra space while she incubates her eggs beside a busy parking lot.

Whether it’s a ground-nesting bird, a turtle hatchling, or some other spring arrival, slow down, look closely, and when possible, give wildlife the room they need.

**bCreekNaturalist

15/05/2026

Turtle Crossing Season has arrived! ⚠️🐢

Many turtle species are on the go as they move between habitats and seek out nest sites. As you encounter turtles in roadways this spring and summer, remember the following:

✅Help turtles cross the road (in the direction they seemed to be heading) if it is safe to do so
🚫Do NOT relocate turtles - removing them from their territory and natural habitat decreases their chances of survival
🚫Do NOT take turtles home as long-term or temporary pets - let them be wild!

Be on the lookout and lend a helping hand when possible!

You can also support turtles, and other vulnerable wildlife, when you join Kentucky Wild. Learn more and become a member at FW.KY.GOV/KYWILD.

📷An Eastern box turtle crosses a roadway at Barren River Lake State Park