Environment Archives - Esther Beaton

HELLO FELLOW NATURE AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS!

Here is an opportunity for your photos to do some powerful good. Let me tell you the story behind this wonderful new grant created especially for those devoted to conservation photography. I “knew” Wayne Lawler going back to the days in the 1980’s when my stock agency, Auscape International, represented him as one of its […]

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Conservation, Environment, Nature and Wildlife, Nature Photography, On the Beaton Track, Wildlife PhotographyAustralian Wildlife Conservancy, conservation photography, flash lighting, night photography, on location, threatened species

How to carry out an assignment for a geographic magazine – Part 2 – Being in the moment

I started shooting the story on pearl faming in New South Wales before I’d even signed the contract with the magazine. That was because a key event was happening immediately – an event that could not be rescheduled or wait for the convenience of a photographer — seeding the oysters. On one beautiful warm

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Australian Geographic, Behind the Scenes, Bird Images, Environment, Habitats, Nature and Wildlife, Nature Photography, New South Wales, On the Beaton Track, People Photography, Photography Techniques, Professional Photographybirds, Central Coast, environment, estuary, lagoon, Nature photography, outdoor photography, photo assignment, wildlife

The Worst Drought Ever – are the birds coping?

It’s the worst drought in New South Wales “in six generations” some say. Others say it’s the worst recorded since European settlement. Still others say the worst in 400 years. Chiltern-Pt Pilot National Park, near the New South Wales border, is one of the world’s birding hotspots. When I was there on an assignment

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Bird photography, Environment, On the Beaton Track, Photography Techniques, Victoria, Wildlife Photographyblind, drought, hide, waterhole

Victoria’s Coast and Photo Tip: Charming the Birds

There are some great bird photography locations in Victoria, but during my January trip the drought was playing havoc, with days of unexpected rain, paralytic heat, and dust storms. But even with a little persistence, even in the worst of weather you can still find a few plucky birds. The scenery along the shores of

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Bird Images, Bird photography, Habitats, On the Beaton Track, Photography Techniques, Quick Tips, Victoriabird photography, birds, national parks, Nature photography, wildlife photography

A Visit to AWC and the Challenges of Mammal Photography

Wayne Lawler, staff photographer for Australian Wildlife Conservancy, photographing Boodies and Woylies at night with several flash units, Yookamurra Sanctuary, South Australia

I love the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. I love all conservation groups but the AWC has an astounding success rate. Not only are they re-establishing populations of highly threatened species, they are achieving the job at discount rates. They run a mean, tight ship as far as admin spending goes. Income goes almost entirely to field

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Conservation, Nature and Wildlife, Photography Techniques, Professional Photography, South Australia, Threatened species, Wildlife PhotographyAustralian Wildlife Conservancy, flash photography, nocturnal photography

Help the Regent Honeyeater and Enjoy Nature Too

Regent Honeyeater (Xanthomyza phrygia) with yellow banksia flower. Southeastern Australia. Endangered species.

Helping our endangered wildlife doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it can be a lot of fun. The Regent Honeyeater is responding to the help the species has received in recent years. But he’s not out of the woods yet and is still listed as critically endangered. Here are two great projects that

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Bird Images, Conservation, Environmentbirding, birdwatching, endangered species, Saving our Species, threatened species, volunteering

The Story Behind the Green And Golden Bell Frog Image

It was the magic year of 2000. Everyone had breathed a sigh of relief that our computers and systems hadn’t gone haywire. In Sydney it was the time of the Olympics. Energy was high. Somehow the threatened Green and Golden Bell Frog became emblematic of this productive and heartfelt era. I was on assignment for

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Australian Geographic, Behind the Scenes, Conservation, Cute Animals, Ecology, Nature and Wildlife, Nikon, Photography Equipment, Photography Techniques, Professional Photography, Threatened species, Wildlife Photographybehavioral ecology, Broughton Island, Green and Golden Bell Frog, Olympics, saving species, Sydney, threatened species

Squirrel Glider

From a secure high perch, the Squirrel Glider extends the flaps between its wrists and ankles – then soars. This portrait photo served as the cover, through two editions, of the classic tome by the Australian Museum, called The Complete Book of Australian Mammals. Interested in seeing this delicate portrait as a fine art print?

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Exhibitions & Artworks, Fine Art, Nature and Wildlife, Threatened speciesflying mammals, flying marsupials, Gliders, nocturnal photography

Take better photos with your smartphone

You can take great photos with your smartphone – as long as you remember two things: The smartphone is for internet use only. The quality is not adequate for print, unless it’s postcard size or smaller. This is due the the small format, i.e., the sensor in the iPhone is smaller than your little fingernail.

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Behind the Scenes, Digital Photography, Environment, New South Wales, People Photography, Photography Equipment, Photography TechniquesAustralian Wildlife Conservancy, conservation, in the field, iPhone photography, Pilliga, smartphone photography

Behind the scenes on this month’s magazine feature

This week I’m taking you behind the scenes of my current published assignment for Australian Geographic. It’s only a short feature and you can see it in the November December 2016 issue called “Raptor rehab”. Here are some notes as to how and why I shot some of the pics. I was allowed very limited

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Australian Geographic, Behind the Scenes, Conservation, New South Wales, Professional Photography, Wildlife Photographybehind the scenes, conservation, owls, raptors, rehabilitation, Southern Highlands, volunteer