Matt Cohen Photography

06/14/2026

There are still openings for my upcoming Garden Photography Workshop this Saturday at the Castle in the Clouds mansion gardens and the weather is looking excellent!

06/09/2026

While kayaking Saturday morning on Lake Winnipesaukee, I spotted a little head swimming across the lake in the distance and started wondering what I was looking at.

Mink? Muskrat? Otter?

Nope. Squirrel.

After making it safely across, the squirrel climbed out, gave the full wet-dog shake, and headed up the tree like nothing unusual had happened. The slower shutter speed really showed the water flying.

Apparently even squirrels enjoy a lake crossing now and then.

06/08/2026

More Little Swans

I was lucky enough to come across more swan cygnets at a different pond this past week. Moments like these are always special, especially when the cygnets are still so small and sticking close to their parent.

Hard to beat this level of cute.

06/08/2026

Barred Owl Owlets

After finally photographing Great Horned Owl owlets, I was lucky enough to photograph my second set of owlets, this time Barred Owls.

This was also in Massachusetts, but I am keeping the location private to protect them. Unlike my recent Great Horned Owl owlet photos, these were not nest photos. These Barred Owl owlets had already fledged and were perched in the surrounding trees. In this set, one image shows the adult Barred Owl, while the others show two different owlets.

One noticeable difference between Barred Owls and many other owls I have photographed is their eye color. Great Horned Owls, Snowy Owls, Long-eared Owls, and Short-eared Owls all have striking yellow eyes, while Barred Owls have deep, dark eyes that give them a very different expression.

I have encountered quite a few Barred Owls over the years - partly because they are more likely to be active during the day than many other owl species - but this was my first time getting to photograph Barred Owl owlets, with their fluffy young plumage, oversized look, and curious expressions.

Definitely another special owl encounter.

06/01/2026

Scarlet in the Canopy

I don't come across Scarlet Tanagers very often, so getting a good look at this male was a real treat. Their bright red and black colors make them look impossible to miss, but in the forest canopy they can disappear quickly among the leaves and shadows.

Scarlet Tanagers spend the warmer months here in New England, usually nesting in mature forests before migrating south for the winter. One interesting fact is that, despite their name, they are actually more closely related to cardinals than to true tanagers.

I liked both of these views for different reasons: the first shows off that classic brilliant red profile, while the second has more of a hidden woodland feel, like a quick glimpse before he vanished back into the trees, which is exactly what happened.

Which do you like best?

05/31/2026

No Rod Required

While a fisherman waited patiently on the water, this osprey made a fresh catch right nearby, then flew past with its prize, proving that some anglers do not need a rod, reel, or tackle box.

I loved the story in this scene, with the fisherman in the background and the osprey showing off its own fishing skills in the foreground. For me, it was a fun moment of timing, contrast, and a little bit of natural humor.

05/31/2026

Local followers, come join me for my Garden Photography Workshop at Castle in the Clouds on Saturday, June 20, from 9:30 AM to 1 PM.

The workshop includes the 10:15 AM Lucknow Garden Tour, with lots of great historical information about the mansion and its gardens. We’ll cover composition, lighting, and other techniques to help you capture your own beautiful garden images.

Digital cameras and smartphones are welcome, and all skill levels are encouraged to join.

To register, call ArtWorks Gallery at 603-323-8041.

June Workshops Are Here!

Join us in June for two creative workshops: Garden Photography and Travel Kit. Whether you’re interested in capturing beautiful garden scenes or creating a watercolor kit for your travels, there’s something fun to explore with ArtWorks.

More 2026 workshops and classes will be announced soon, so stay tuned.

To register, call 603-323-8041.

05/29/2026

The Alewife Run

Every spring, alewives return from the ocean and push upstream into Maine and New Hampshire rivers to spawn. Alewives are related to Atlantic herring and arrive in large numbers from April through late May, creating one of the most exciting wildlife events of the season.

Last week, I visited Warren, Maine, where a footbridge overlooks the St. George River, providing a great vantage point to watch the show. During the annual alewife run, clouds of fish move through the river on their way to spawn in the connected lake system. That concentration draws plenty of attention from ospreys and bald eagles.

I was lucky to watch several ospreys diving, grabbing fish, and lifting off from the river with their catch. A couple eagles flew by while I was there, but they did not join in on the action. It all happens fast, but when everything lines up, it is incredible to witness.

I came home with a lot of photos from the day, so it took a while to go through them all and narrow them down to this set. Here are my favorite moments from the day.

05/23/2026

A little follow-up to my April 20th post of the swans nesting at a pond in my region.

When I visited the pond on Monday, I was able to see the two adults with four cygnets. I was told there were originally five, so sadly, one did not make it.

As you may know, young swans are called cygnets, a word that comes from the Latin word cygnus, meaning “swan.”

I was lucky to spend some time watching this little family from the shoreline and came away with way too many cute photos, including a very close encounter while I was tucked quietly behind some brush. It was very hard to narrow them down, but here is a set of my favorites from the visit.

05/14/2026

Yellow Warbler

One of the brightest signs of spring migration, Yellow Warblers are small, fast-moving songbirds that return to New England each spring after spending the winter much farther south. This one appears to be a male, with that rich yellow color and reddish streaking down the chest.

They do not tend to sit still for long. They’re constantly moving through branches, leaves, and blossoms while feeding, so even getting a clear look at one can be a challenge.

They are often found around wet edges, shrubs, willows, and young growth, which makes spring blossoms and fresh leaves a perfect setting for them. Their song is also one of the easier warbler songs to remember, often described as sounding like, “sweet-sweet-sweet, I’m so sweet.”