Kimberli A. Bindschatel

My Nature & Wildlife Photography

Images by Kimberli A. Bindschatel

Sunset on the Beach, Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica

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©2017 Kimberli A. Bindschatel

This was unplanned. I happened to be at Manuel Antonio Beach to enjoy the sunset. This image isn’t particularly spectacular, but it will always be a great memory for me. Being from northern Michigan, I’ve seen many sunsets over the water. But to be that close to the equator, I learned something that became quite obvious. The sun seemed to drop from the sky and disappear before my eyes. It was as though it was on fast-forward. Apparently, as I looked up on the internet later, being at the 45 parallel in Michigan, the sunset is much longer as not only does the Earth turn, but the sun “sets” at more of an angle, rather than straight along the rotation. Hadn’t thought of it before that moment. So sunsets truly are different around the world.

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Swallowtail butterfly, Michigan

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©2017 Kimberli A. Bindschatel

I seem to have a particular love of winged creatures, big and small. Birds, fireflies, and butterflies capture my curiosity. The story of the butterfly and its metamorphosis baffles me. It’s defies logic. Yet, exists. And how these tiny, weightless beings travel on paper-thin wings never ceases to amaze me. No wonder they are revered the world over. Winged works of art.

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Baby Orca, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

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1755_orca
©2017 Kimberli A. Bindschatel

In 2011, I had the opportunity to spend ten days aboard the M/V Sea Wolf. What an adventure! We kayaked and hiked in glorious Glacier Bay. One day in particular will forever remain etched in my memory. We encountered a small pod of orca. Residents, they circled, pursuing schools of fish. Then we saw this tiny infant among them, bobbing beside mom. The white eye patch and belly still had an orangish tint from the amniotic fluid. What a joy!

Seeing killer whales move through the water is an amazing sight. The speed and ease with which they travel is breathtaking. You know they are predators just by being in their presence. I felt my heart rate increase even though I was safe onboard a 90 ft. vessel. I cannot wait to see one again.

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Carpet of Flowers, Blarney, Cork, Ireland

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©2017 Kimberli A. Bindschatel

A little St. Patrick’s day fun. I made this photograph in Ireland in the gardens at Blarney Castle. No, I didn’t kiss the stone, but I did go up into the castle. People were much smaller back then.

One thing about Ireland: it is as green as they say. Everything is lush and green. I assume it’s the temperate island climate. Amid what you’d think of typical northern foliage would be a palm tree. A palm tree. Fascinating.

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Squirrel Cuckoo, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

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©2017 Kimberli A. Bindschatel

I’ve just returned from a glorious trip to Puerto Vallarta. I went to see the whales. Unfortunately, with El Nino, the water temperature in the bay is unseasonably high and the whales aren’t coming into the bay much. I did see a few, but not like the last time I visited.

So I decided to take a spontaneous birding day trip. Wow. I had taken my camera along to Mexico but no tripod (as I’d assumed my only serious photo ops would be on the boat). Consequently, I was shooting hand held. But I had the great luck to see this beauty and get a nice portrait. Isn’t she stunning?

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Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

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©2017 Kimberli A. Bindschatel

There is something magical about ice. All the glaciers I’ve seen have been on my mind this month, with the climate conference in France and winter coming.

I’ve held a piece of glacial ice in my hand. It was so crystal clear, it was like holding a magical, crystal ball. Eons of compression take every air bubble out. Amazing. And the shear mass of the ice wall on one of these things, especially the tidal glaciers, where massive chunks fall off, thundering into the sea. It’s indescribable. I highly recommend you see one for yourself. And soon. Before they are all gone.

Glaciers are a photographer’s dream. The lines, shapes, forms, are a joy to explore visually. I have hundreds of photos, every one dramatically different.

Ice. Amazing.

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Mountain Goat, Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

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©2017 Kimberli A. Bindschatel

This image is special for me because it was the first one I sold as a wildlife photographer. I’ll never forget how that felt. I hung the image in a local lunch shop and some anonymous soul paid real money for it. Exhilerating!

It took me three days to climb this mountain, in the blistering heat, carrying 80 lbs. of gear and, okay, well, really this guy was about ten feet off the main road about two miles from Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. That’s how it happens sometimes. My husband and I were on a trip out west and we came around a bend to find cars backed up. I figured there was some critter, so I grabbed my camera, flung open the passenger door, leaped out, and left my husband to find a place to park.

I love this pose, showing where his coat had fallen away. Beautiful, majestic creature. He now graces the cover of my newly released book, Wildlife: A Photographic Collection

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