The Shot That Lives in Your Head

American crocodile. 1/250, f/11, ISO 200

Every photographer has the shot that haunts them—the one they can see so clearly in their mind’s eye but have yet to capture.

It’s more than just an image. It’s a moment, a feeling, a vision so vivid that it pulls you back, again and again, no matter how many times you miss it.

I have had several of these shots in my head. The perfect orca shot. The perfect anaconda shot. The whale. The crocodile.

I’ve visualized them over and over, played them out in my mind like a scene from a film. I know the light, the angle, the way the water will move around them. I know exactly what I want.

Sperm whale mating aggregation. 1/320, f/9, ISO 800

But I haven’t captured them yet.

And that’s why I keep going back.

There’s a strange relationship between wildlife photographers and the images we haven’t taken yet. They exist in a space between obsession and determination—a mental archive of moments that feel just within reach but never quite materialize.

I’ve been in the water with orcas in Norway, camera in hand, waiting for that perfect baitball shot—the one where the orca is perfectly positioned next to the baitball, with enough light pouring through the water to light up the herring around the orcas.

An image that is raw and powerful and fully wild. I’ve been to Norway many times, but I have not once come close to the shot I am dreaming of. Some of my friends have, and their images fire me up and fill me with inspiration.

I’ve searched for the anaconda shot that exists in my head—the massive serpent laying in the water coiled up in the sand next to a diver, perfectly framed, every colorful scale catching the light just right. I’ve been on seven different expeditions trying to get it just right.

Green anaconda. 1/320, f/9, ISO 800

Each time, I leave knowing I’ll have to come back.

Whales, sharks, crocodiles… they all live in my mind as images I am still chasing.

Some might say it’s frustrating to keep missing the shot you want. But for me that’s exactly what makes it all worth it.

Wildlife photography is about patience, yes, but more than that—it’s about persistence.

Male Orca. 1/400, f/9, ISO 1000

I have learned you just don’t get the shot because you want it bad. The ocean doesn’t care about your dreams. The animals don’t pose for you. It’s all on their terms, not yours.

So you keep coming back.

Because one day, when you least expect it, the stars will align. The animal will move into the perfect position. The water will be clear, the light just right. And you’ll be ready.

Right Whale. 1/320, f9, ISO 320

That’s the moment every photographer lives for.

That’s the moment that makes every failed attempt worth it.

And until that moment comes, I’ll keep returning.

Because the shot I’m chasing is still out there, waiting for me to capture it.

And when I finally do... It will not be because I got lucky.

It will be because I missed my shot a hundred times before.

Photo of the Day: Cenote Diving for a Morelet’s Crocodile in Tulum

1/250, f/9, ISO 1600

Today’s photo takes me back to an unforgettable cenote dive in Tulum, Mexico. I had the opportunity to go searching for a Morelet’s crocodile with a local guide and friend Tamara, who knew just the right spot where one of these elusive creatures is often sighted.

What made this dive unique was being able to use scuba gear. Typically, my crocodile encounters happen while snorkeling, but here I had the rare chance to explore the lagoon with a tank on my back. Cenote diving is an adventure in itself, with stunning swim-throughs, intricate rock formations, and the magical effect of light piercing through the water to create ethereal god rays.

We swam through the cenote for a while without any sign of the crocodile.

Just as we were beginning to think it might not show, we entered one of the cenote’s caves. Deep inside, in a small breathing hole, we finally spotted the croc. It seemed to be hiding there to escape the crowds of snorkeling tourists.

1/250, f/9, ISO 1600

Our bubbles inadvertently disturbed its rest, (sorry buddy), and it swam out of the cave and back into the lagoon. I followed it for a while, capturing different angles as it swam off. This Morelet’s crocodile was very calm, clearly habituated to humans. It allowed me to get close and take some fun shots.

I love crocodiles, their prehistoric features make them such fascinating and photogenic subjects.

1/200, f/9, ISO 1600

Photographing Morelet’s crocodiles in a cenote presents a unique challenge—low light, murky water, and the need for precision in settings. Unlike shooting in open ocean or bright sunlit environments, cenotes create a dim, shadowy atmosphere where every camera setting becomes a delicate balancing act.

One of the biggest obstacles was managing light without sacrificing clarity. The thick overhead canopy and deep water columns absorbed natural light, forcing me to make critical adjustments on the fly.

To compensate for the darkness, I had to lower my shutter speed while still keeping it fast enough to freeze any sudden movement. Bumping up my ISO was unavoidable, knowing that noise would creep into the image, but it was a necessary trade-off to maintain exposure.

I kept my f-stop at 9 to ensure the entire crocodile remained in focus. A wider aperture would have helped let in more light, but losing depth of field wasn’t an option. I wanted the full length of the animal sharp.

This meant dealing with increased noise in the shadows, a challenge that would later require noise reduction editing in post. But in that moment, it was about getting the shot, adjusting in real-time, and working with the limited natural light.

Photographing a predator like this in such conditions forces you to trust your instincts, adapt your settings, and embrace the imperfections that come with shooting in extreme environments.

1/200, f/9, ISO 1600

I spent about half an hour photographing the croc, enjoying the animal and the scenery before leaving it alone to continue its day.

It’s been a while since that adventure, but I’m due to return for another opportunity to capture this amazing animal in its natural habitat. Cenote diving is a unique experience, and sharing space with an animal like this only adds to the magic.

Storytelling... I Absolutely LOVE IT!

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I just finished up my second article for The Journal of Wildlife Photography, which I was thrilled about. My second 3000 plus word article. It is stressful but in a good way. The reason it is stressful is because I want to tell a good story; I am hoping the reader takes something from it and is entertained at the same time. That is always my hope when I write, but you never know. It could be a total lemon, as I am sure I have written many lemons throughout my career. 

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Thinking about that got me to looking back at my role as a storyteller. I have been writing and sharing stories for years; on paper, in newsletters, in my journal, and my blog. I began writing in a journal right out of high school, and I started a blog back in 2005 on our old website. Sadly I took down that website to divert the old traffic to our new website, and in doing so, all those years of blogging disappeared. I am sure if I wanted to, I could find them floating in cyberspace, drifting endlessly among millions of other web pages. All of them lost with nowhere to go.

Thankfully, I still have those pages and writings saved on a hard drive, so they are there for me whenever I want to look back to read my thoughts from those long-lost days.

I do enjoy writing; I enjoy the art of getting lost in a story, or taking a reader on a journey. Sharing ideas and worlds and moments, I love that about writing. As a kid, all my favorite books were from writers who would take me with them to farway places; exotic lands, exotic animals, exotic people. I wanted to be there, I wanted to see that animal, to breathe in the air, to feel the wind. Those escapes are what helped to turn me into the person I am today. 

I do hope that when you read my blogs and stories, you feel the same way - That I have taken you on a journey. I know not all my stories have because sometimes they are just rants that I need to get off my mind. But hopefully, more often than not, I take you on a ride, somewhere… anywhere.

Thanks for reading.