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Category: nature photography

July 19, 2026

I Kayaked to this Lighthouse with My Drone for these Incredible Views from the Air

Standing on the rocky shore of Goat Island near Cape Porpoise, Maine, I gained a whole new perspective as I flew my little camera drone around this magnificent tower. Here’s my footage. See for yourself.

Goat Island Lighthouse has stood at the edge of the southern Maine coastline for almost two centuries. It wasn’t built to be admired. It was built to be obeyed. Established in 1833 to guard the entrance to Cape Porpoise Harbor, ‘Goat Island Light’ is still an active beacon. 

I’ve admired this brick tower for the past five summers during our vacations to the Cape Porpoise coast. 

Though Goat Island Lighthouse continues to shine bright at night, the morning sun enhances its beauty and bold elegance.

A Lighthouse, a Kayak, and My Drone

I’ve taken many photos from afar. But this year, I decided it was time to try to capture its rugged strength up close and from the air.

With my preproduction planning complete, I set out in a kayak shortly after first light with my DJI camera drone and headed off to the rocky shore of Goat Island.

As soon as I arrived, I put my little DJI Flip drone in the air and got to work recording short clips. And I’m proud to present my completed video sequence of Goat Island Lighthouse.

My experience capturing these aerial moments was exhilarating. And I’m pleased that my footage benefits from a rousing score I conjured up via Google Flow Music (another remarkable AI-powered creative tool).

I didn’t exactly follow my less-is-more creative strategy, as this video clocks in at close to two minutes. My earlier editing exercise using the DJI Fly app created snappier results. But I really wanted to explore the ‘cinematic feel’ while featuring my ‘hero.’

Five Summers of Admiring… One Morning of Finally Flying

Creative success is often a team sport. I’d like to thank Kennebunkport Conservation Trust for permission to fly my drone by the lighthouse. And special thanks go to my two friends for accompanying me on my little adventure.

I captured incredible views that few can normally see. I’m still beaming.

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June 28, 2026

How Clouds Transformed My Boring Sunrise Timelapses into Pure Magic

Watching any sunrise is a meaningful experience, but I’ve learned that recording a timelapse video during a cloudless dawn doesn’t generate enough action.  Clouds have to be in the shot for the timelapse to feature their secret dance. Here are a few examples.

I’ve effectively stopped taking photos and videos of sunrises. Why? Because every close-up shot of the early sun is the same.

Instead, I now focus on showing how the environment reflects or responds to first light. So that requires a wider angle shot where the sun isn’t necessarily center stage.

That creative approach is much more interesting to me.

The Dance of the Clouds

Often, the key ingredient is how the clouds are positioned and move throughout a sunrise. Their sped-up motion becomes the anchor for the entire scene.

Cloud support is always part of any successful sunrise timelapse video I record. 

But there are many variables… How much cloud cover is there? How fast are they moving? In which direction? What are their colors?The permutations are endless. 

Waking up at 4:30am on Vacation?

Which is why I always choose to set up my tripod for a summer sunrise timelapse whenever I’m on vacation in Cape Porpoise, Maine. (This is not a ‘once and done’ creative exercise.)

The place we stay offers a spectacular view over the mudflats near the ocean. So, if the weather forecast looks good for the next day, I set my wakeup alarm for 4:30am.

Yes, it may be counter intuitive to get up wicked early on a vacation morning. But that’s what it takes to capture the amazing colors in the sky before the sun shows up at 5am. And let me tell you… it’s worth it.

My DJI Osmo Glows with the Sun

I’ve been using my little DJI Osmo gimbal camera for my ongoing sunrise project over the past five summers, and I’ve found that each of my sunrise timelapses looks entirely unique. That’s because every morning brings a different cloud formation.

Of course, you can’t have total cloud cover. Alternately, you need some clouds in place. Otherwise, you’ll just have that little glowing ball moving slowly in an empty blue sky.

Nature Calls the Shots

I run my sunrise timelapses for an hour, auto-snapping frames at 3-second increments. That generates a 40-second video. 

A lot can happen in the sky across an hour. So, what you start with may evolve into something entirely different that can make or break your results. But there’s nothing you can do… other than observe.

Nature is in control.

Which means you’re not going to get what you hope for every morning. But I’m pleased to report that I had some success this summer in Maine. And I have a new crop of Cape Porpoise mudflat sunrise timelapses to share with you. Here are the highlights.

Start Your Day

My ‘skill’ in capturing these stunning moments is mostly just about being able to stumble out of bed and show up on time to witness nature present its magical morning show. 

And if the clouds should decide on a ‘pleasing’ sequence for a timelapse, you’re in for a treat.

What better way to start your day.

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March 29, 2026

Capturing Spring’s Early Flow with My Microscope Lens

This is a tight shot I snapped of a spring vinca flower that reveals the pent-up energy about to blossom over the landscape. Below are a few more spring pics I captured with my microscope lens mounted to my iPhone.

That anything living can break through the barren, winter-scarred ground always seems like a miracle. Yet, of course as the fading winter releases its brutal grip and the temperatures begin to rise, early spring begins this annual rebirth.

I’m always delighted during these first days before spring really kicks in. That’s when you need to make an effort to spot the signs. Though tiny, they’re everywhere. The trees are still barren, but the first flower buds are already starting to make their move.

Look Closer

I think we’re likely a week or two away from ‘opening day’ here in southern Connecticut. (That’s when you look out the window and almost fall over from the impact of spring’s stunning return.) 

I took my Panasonic Lumix mirrorless camera outside this week to take a few early-spring test shots but found my results underwhelming. Maybe it was too soon. 

Then, I thought for a moment and realized I just needed to get a little closer to nature’s magic. So, I pulled out my SANDMARC microscope lens for my iPhone and screwed it onto my iPhone case (also made by SANDMARC).

When I bought this lens system last summer, I wasn’t sure how often I would use it. Well, this was clearly one of those moments.

So, I set out to try again.

Early Days

The images I captured were not your typical bright and colorful spring collection. The shots were necessarily darker with my microscope lens pressed close to the flower buds. 

But this framing style also created a more intimate result, revealing a view of a young spring not yet fully formed.

Time to Expand the View

My microscope lens provides an especially narrow depth of field. Much of each image blurs away from the tight focal point. As a result, I think I’ve captured more of nature’s organic flow in action. 

And this flow will soon burst onto the landscape. Then, it will be easy to expand the view.

I couldn’t be happier being able to see this preview.

Hello, spring!

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