Wildlife photography with soul: Candid advice and field notes

Nature photography invites us to slow down, step outside, and pay attention. Whether you’re just getting started or have been at it for years, this blog offers practical tips, field-tested gear, and quiet reflections on what it’s like to make images in the wild. Here, you’ll find tools to grow your skills and stories that help you reconnect—with nature, and maybe even yourself.

Bringing nature closer—one image at a time

I’ve been drawn to wild places since I was a kid. I spent hours outside, watching, sketching, collecting things—before I ever held a camera. In my early twenties, I earned a degree from the Colorado Institute of Art and started working as a photographer. The subject matter. has gone from photojournalism to industrial, then commercial assignments, and eventually, conservation work.

Some of that time was spent in uniform, with my camera over one shoulder. I documented soldiers and military missions with the New Mexico Army National Guard. Later, I photographed road crews and infrastructure projects for the Department of Transportation. My freelance work took me to dozens of cities. But it was the years I spent with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish that brought me closest to the work I love—telling stories about wild animals and the places they live.

Through it all, one thing in my work has stayed steady: the desire to share what I see. Whether it’s a gallery wall, a website, or a printed page, photography has always felt like the best way I know to tell a visual story with as many viewers as possible.

What You’ll Find Here:
Our Three Pillars

Amazing Wild Art is a nature photography blog dedicated to helping you explore the wild and connect with nature.

This blog is built on three main pillars. They’re the subjects to which I’ve given much thought and where I hope to offer something useful:

Outdoor photography and wild places

These posts come from the field—trips to public lands, stories about weather, timing, and patience. You’ll get a sense of what it’s like to walk slowly through the woods or sit for hours near water, waiting for something to show up. Find them under Locations.

Wellbeing through photography

Nature photography isn’t just about technique. It’s also about slowing down and experiencing a sense of calm. These posts explore the emotional side of the work—how making pictures can help us pay attention, breathe more deeply, and feel more connected to the land. You can read more in Wellbeing.

How-to guides and photo gear

Here you’ll find hands-on advice—camera settings, lens tips, and field-tested gear. These posts are practical, based on real-world experience, and written for people who want to learn by doing. Build your skills as I share decades of Know How .

Part of knowing. the “how” of photography is knowing what gear to use, and when. These posts are also designed to be practical, and they’re based on my thirty-plus years of experience. Browse recommended tools in Gear.

Join the Journey

Over time, I’ve built up a collection of images and ideas. Now I’m looking for more ways to make this work sustainable. That means you’ll occasionally see affiliate links for tools and gear I use and trust, honest reviews, and a few behind-the-scenes posts from my years in the field. Some of those reflections may also appear in Photography Insights, where I’ll share lessons learned from time spent in the field and behind the camera.

At the heart of it all is a simple truth: the wild is worth noticing—and worth sharing.

Thanks for being here.

—Martin