Tom.haxby.photos

05/23/2024

Yup, I have not been posting much recently. Too much has been going on, but this is one of my all-time favorites. Sometimes everything just comes together. All that said, I have a photo opportunity upcoming and if it all comes to fruition, it could be quite the image. Next week, weather permitting I have other plans. And as we go further into the summer season, I hope to spend more time with my camera.

09/17/2023

I know, it has been a long time since I posted on here. No excuses. Here is one of my latest.

08/18/2022

06/06/2022

My Newsletter for June is now available online at https://mailchi.mp/f02c5136bcc6/tom-haxby-photos-june-2022?fbclid=IwAR2fQ4QbsxRRj_onp2SQcOC7LnBvVDiJFSxO9DKczdAO3R6juil3_xTjpQk

05/20/2022

My 18th bear sighting of the spring was a memorable one. I will call it "close encounters of the bear kind". A young male was grazing along the road and wandered behind my vehicle. I had no other option but to hop out and get a few photos. That's when he started walking towards me. He must have wanted some protein in his diet, or maybe he liked my aftershave. He kept getting closer and closer and I got as many photos as I could with my pea shooter lens (big lens is out for repair). Finally, I realized he was not going to stop and perhaps just wanted a close friend or an easy meal. I know you are not allowed to feed wildlife in the park so I jumped back in the truck. I slowly stuck my nose out of the window and looked down and there he was. I would not recommend this for others, but I do stupid things all the time.

Next time I will do it differently. Faster shutter speed and turn on vibration reduction. My hands might have been shaking. This is the only one of several in focus.

05/03/2022

One of my favorite images from a recent visit to The Nuthouse in Clemson, SC. An eastern bluebird.

03/24/2022

Great visit yesterday to the Nuthouse in Clemson, SC. Carl Ackerman has created a bird sanctuary with photography blinds in his yard. Cannot wait to go back for the warbler migration in April. Quite the place to observe and photograph native songbirds. I have seen a few of Carl's photos from here and they are stunning. Yea to Carl for creating this oasis for birds and for allowing others to enjoy photographing the birds on photogenic perches. https://www.carlackerman.com/

02/17/2022

Sometimes it helps to be in the right place at the right time. This in Cades Cove was awesome in person. Capturing it was even better. Twenty four hours earlier I was in the wrong place for a spectacular moonrise. https://tomhaxbyphotos.smugmug.com/Southern-Images/Southern-latitude/i-SCWv2Qw

11/18/2021

I have had few opportunities to actually photograph a loon taxiing for takeoff. Because their bones are heavier for diving, it takes a long runway for a loon to get airborne. It is a combination of running and flapping that finally allows them to take off. Just lucky on this day to be in the right place at the right time. Taken handheld from a kayak.

10/04/2021

My latest newsletter and might I add on of my best is now available at

08/26/2021

There are so many great photos being captured today. Fortunately for me, I have had a lot of good training through the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) and other avenues. I will be sharing my knowledge and experience to help beginning photographers take better photos through classes at the Camera Shop in Traverse City, MI on September 21,28 and Oct. 5 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. The cost for all three days is $150 with a 10% discount for Traverse Area Camera Club members. Contact The Camera Shop at 231-946-7150 to sign up. We will be exploring camera controls for proper exposure, as well as composition skills and an introduction to post-processing in Lightroom and Photoshop.