Richard Lovelock Photography

04/09/2026

I don't shoot as much video as I should. The problem as a photographer is that when i see a great scene to video all the time I'm regretting not photographing it. What I have learnt is that photographing a calving glacier really doesn't do it justice. So I hope I made the right decesion here. Facebook ruins the video quality, but in 4k it's epic and in real life, phenomenal to witness.
Alaska really has been as amazing as always.

01/09/2026

Yesterday, the Alaskan port of Icy Strait Point delivered once again! 🇺🇸🐋📸

We had a group of humpback whales bubble-net feeding right behind the ship before they swam down the port side and incredibly, right underneath the dock!

I was fortunate enough to be out on a whale-watching trip at the time, watching the whole thing unfold from the water.

We stayed with the group and were then treated to plenty of tail slapping before things got even better…

Multiple breaches! 🐋💦

I managed to capture one of my best breach photos to date, so I’m feeling very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time.

So, why do humpback whales breach?

A breach is when a whale propels most or all of its enormous body out of the water before crashing back down. An adult humpback can weigh around 30-40 tonnes, so getting that much whale airborne takes an incredible amount of energy!

Scientists still don’t believe there is one single reason for breaching. It may serve several different purposes:

🐋 Communication: The huge splash and sound created when the whale hits the water can travel considerable distances, potentially helping whales communicate with others.

🐋 Social behaviour: Breaching is often seen when whales are interacting with one another and can form part of courtship, competition and other social behaviour.

🐋 Removing parasites: The impact with the water may help dislodge barnacles, whale lice and loose skin.

🐋 Play: Younger humpbacks in particular can breach repeatedly, and sometimes it may simply be part of playful or energetic behaviour.

🐋 Excitement or stimulation: Breaching is sometimes seen during periods of intense activity, including feeding or when several whales are gathered together.

Interestingly, humpbacks are among the most acrobatic of the great whales. Despite their enormous size, their exceptionally long pectoral fins and powerful tail give them remarkable manoeuvrability.

Whatever the exact reason yesterday, seeing multiple breaches at such close range was an unforgettable way to finish another incredible day in Alaska.

And getting the photo was the icing on the cake! 📸🐋

29/08/2026

Say hello to this adorable Horned Puffin!

The other day I headed out on a boat trip into Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward, and one of the highlights was seeing plenty of puffins out on the water. Kenai Fjords Tours

In Alaska there are several members of the auk family you can look out for, including:

Horned Puffin = recognised by its bright orange-and-yellow bill, white face and the little fleshy black “horn” above each eye.

Tufted Puffin = the slightly more flamboyant cousin, with a dark body, enormous colourful bill and long golden-yellow plumes sweeping back from its head.

Rhinoceros Auklet = another close relative of the puffins. During the breeding season it develops a distinctive horn-like projection on its bill, which gives it its rather unusual name!

And this little character in the photo is a Horned Puffin....

Look closely above each eye and you'll see a small, dark, pointed projection - the “horn” that gives the Horned Puffin its name and really differentiates it from it's cousin in a different ocean - the Atlantic puffin.

It isn't a true horn at all, but a small fleshy piece of skin that becomes particularly noticeable during the breeding season. Combined with the puffin's brilliant bill and striking white face, it forms part of its breeding plumage - essentially dressing to impress!

Scientists believe these ornaments may help puffins recognise and assess potential mates. After the breeding season, their appearance becomes much less spectacular: the brightly coloured outer plates of the bill are shed, the face darkens and the little “horns” become far less prominent.

Definitely one of my favourite characters to photograph in Alaska! 📸

26/08/2026

Half way point... we have had our first 10 days in Alaska....and they have been epic!

We have seen the usual suspects: Bald Eagle, Humpback Whale, Sea Otter, Harbour Seal, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Steller Sea Lion, Sitka Black-tailed Deer, Killer Whale (Orca, Dall’s Porpoise, Tufted Puffin, Horned Puffin & Rhinoceros Auklet.

Highlights include:
- humpback bubblenet feeding in Juneau
- black bears in Ketchikan
- brown bears in Sikta
- a breach & x10 chin slaps from a humpback in Icy Strait Point
- spotting killer whales from the shore in Icy Strait Point

We have spent a few days in Seward. Yesterday we hired a car and went off exploring looking for some native Alaska land mammals... post to follow.

Today I'm out on a Kenai Fjord boat tour so I'll update you later 🤞

22/08/2026

Yesterday we had a real treat in Juneau, Alaska 🇺🇸🐋

Laura and I headed out whale watching, and although the weather was a little drizzly, the water conditions were beautifully calm.

Having done this trip many times before, I had a fair idea of where we often find the whales. So when our first stop was at the sea lion haul-out, I’ll admit I was feeling a little apprehensive!

Luckily, we soon moved on and headed towards one of the usual humpback hotspots.

First, we spotted the whale-watching boats gathering in the distance…

Then the blows started appearing.

1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7… 8… we lost count! 🐋🐋🐋

We had come across a group of 15+ humpback whales cooperatively feeding ... we were being treated to one of Alaska’s most spectacular wildlife behaviours:

Bubble-net feeding.

This is an incredible example of teamwork. A group of humpbacks dives beneath a school of fish, usually herring or other schooling prey. Some of the whales blow streams of bubbles while swimming in a circle or spiral beneath the fish.

The rising bubbles form a kind of curtain or net, concentrating the fish into an increasingly tight group.

Other whales may help herd the fish, while the group coordinates its movements and prepares for the final stage.

An important member of the team is the lead whale, which helps coordinate the feeding event and gives the call that signals the group’s final upward charge. Yesterday, that whale was Ruffles, a well-known Juneau humpback. Ruffles gets his name from the distinctive ruffled or scalloped trailing edge of his tail flukes, which helps researchers and whale-watchers recognise him as an individual.

Then comes the spectacular bit…

The humpbacks surge upwards together through the middle of the concentrated fish, mouths wide open, engulfing huge quantities of prey in a single coordinated rush. We could see multiple enormous mouths erupting through the surface at once!

What makes this particularly special is that bubble-net feeding is not something every humpback whale does. It is a learned behaviour, passed socially between whales, and Southeast Alaska is one of the best-known places in the world to witness large groups using this sophisticated cooperative hunting technique.

10/08/2026

🦁WORLD LION DAY🦁

The King of the Big Cats 👑

A few special images to share for World Lion Day, each with its own story.

🇹🇿 Tanzania
This magnificent male had lost an eye in a battle with his own brother for control of the pride. A true-life Lion King story - a reminder that life at the top is anything but easy. Male lions can face fierce competition for territory, females and the right to lead a pride, and these battles can result in serious injury.

🇧🇼 Botswana
The other two images are from my recent trip to Botswana.

We had been watching a pride of females with their cubs, including this lovely moment of two lions nuzzling one another. Lions are the most social of all the big cats, and behaviours such as head rubbing and nuzzling help reinforce the bonds within a pride.

After a while, two young males appeared - and the pride quickly moved away.

One of the males then began investigating the area. In the photograph you can see him with his mouth slightly open and tongue out, taking in the scents left behind. Lions have an incredibly sophisticated sense of smell and use scent to gather information about other lions in their territory.

Powerful, social, complex and unmistakably majestic.

There really is nothing quite like seeing a lion in the wild.

Happy World Lion Day! 🦁🌍

03/08/2026

Big Fish 🦈
Little Fish 🐟
Cardboard box 📦

Some of you will get that.
Many of you won't.

But just to be transparent and in case I tricked you...one of these images is AI generated 😉

30/07/2026

An easy meal! We both "nailed it".

28/07/2026

What a glorious day in Leknes, Lofoten Islands 🇳🇴

Blue skies and calm seas made for the perfect combination on my RIB tour today.

And the cherry on top... a magnificent white-tailed eagle flew right past us before diving for a fish. An unforgettable wildlife encounter!

The white-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in northern Europe, with a wingspan of up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft). Once persecuted across much of Europe, it has made a remarkable comeback and is now a conservation success story.

Norway is home to one of the world's largest populations, with an estimated 4,000–5,000 breeding pairs.

I'm very pleased with these photos! 📸🦅

27/07/2026

A gentleman that hugely influenced my love of the natural world as I was growing up.
Sad news, but thanks Bill for inspiring so many, including myself.

Saddened by the news our friend Bill Oddie has passed away. We spent many happy days birding with Bill on his beloved Fair Isle and here in Shetland and his books in the 1980s inspired us and a generation of young birders. His TV career made Bill one of Britain’s best-loved wildlife presenters fronting popular BBC programmes including Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild, Springwatch and Autumnwatch. He inspired millions to appreciate nature. A true legend.