YS Wildlife Photography

YS Wildlife Photography See wildlife through a veterinarian's lens.

This past weekend, I spent some time kayaking and observing a pair of Common Loons on a local lake.The pair has become f...
06/17/2026

This past weekend, I spent some time kayaking and observing a pair of Common Loons on a local lake.
The pair has become familiar with my presence over the years and seems very relaxed around me. They often swim close to my kayak while softly cooing to one another.
At one point, they stopped fishing, climbed out of the water, and began mating not far from where I was watching. It was the first time I had the opportunity to witness and photograph this behavior.
Hopefully, their efforts will be rewarded, and they’ll successfully raise at least one chick to adulthood. 🙏
Taken in the Adirondacks, New York, 6/2026.
(Nikon Z8, f 6, 1/3200, ISO 6400, 340mm)
If you'd like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, please message/email us or click on the link in my profile.

Yesterday, we were reminded that despite its beauty, nature can also be cruel.This gorgeous leopard, Ndoto—whose name me...
06/15/2026

Yesterday, we were reminded that despite its beauty, nature can also be cruel.
This gorgeous leopard, Ndoto—whose name means “dream” in Swahili—was recently found dead in a tree. The exact cause of her death is unknown, but it is believed she may have succumbed to injuries sustained in a fight with another leopard.
We last saw her a few months ago with her cub. Just after sunset, as the rain finally stopped, she emerged briefly from the bushes, posed gracefully on a fallen tree, and then melted back into the night. It was a fleeting encounter, but one that left a lasting impression.
I can only hope her cub survives despite this loss.
Rest in peace, Ndoto. 🙏💔
Taken in Mara north conservancy, Kenya, 3/2026.
(Nikon Z9, f 4, 1/40, ISO 5000, 400mm)
If you'd like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, please message/email us or click on the link in my profile.

I’ve seen young lions and lion cubs carry all sorts of treasures in their mouths—from a wildebeest’s tail and elephant d...
06/11/2026

I’ve seen young lions and lion cubs carry all sorts of treasures in their mouths—from a wildebeest’s tail and elephant dung to discarded plastic water bottles—but this was the first time I’d seen one proudly carrying a thorny acacia branch.
When lions find something unusual like this, they often treat it as a prized possession. And as soon as the others notice that someone has a “special toy,” they suddenly decide they want it too.
That’s exactly what happened here. Despite the questionable value of this thorn-covered branch, the other lions immediately gave chase, determined to steal it from its owner.
Fortunately, no one got hurt during this rather risky game. After about five minutes of chasing, wrestling, and showing off, the branch lost its appeal, and the precious cargo was finally abandoned.
Taken in Naboisho conservancy, Kenya, 3/2026.
(Nikon Z9, f 4, 1/320, ISO 10,000, 400mm)

06/10/2026

Videos by
Here’s another episode of “spot the leopard”.
How many did you spot?
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If you’d like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, email us at [email protected] or click on the link in my profile.
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I was photographing a pair of Red-billed Hornbills when I noticed an elephant making its way through the bush not far be...
06/09/2026

I was photographing a pair of Red-billed Hornbills when I noticed an elephant making its way through the bush not far behind them.
As the elephant got closer, I wasn’t sure whether the bird would stay put or take off, so I prepared for both possibilities—I increased my shutter speed and zoomed out to give myself some room to work.
Fortunately, the hornbill decided to stick around. For a few brief moments, the elephant moved into exactly the right position, creating the perfect background and allowing me to capture this image.
Taken in Tsavo East, Kenya, 7/2023.
(Nikon Z9, f 5, 1/5000, ISO 500, 195mm)
If you'd like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, please message/email us or click on the link in my profile.

This Serval kitten was all by himself while his mom was out “shopping” for food.It was fascinating to watch how he kept ...
06/06/2026

This Serval kitten was all by himself while his mom was out “shopping” for food.
It was fascinating to watch how he kept himself entertained and explored the world around him with endless curiosity.
At one point, he walked straight toward our vehicle and came so close that we could almost hear him purr. In fact, he got so close that his head barely fit in the frame.
I hope you don’t mind that I couldn’t quite fit the tips of his ears into the photo.
Isn’t he adorable? 🐾
Wishing you all a great weekend!
Taken in Masai Mara, Kenya, 9/2021
(Nikon D5, f 4, 1/500, ISO 1600, 260mm)
If you'd like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, please message/email us or click on the link in my profile.

This was one of two young cheetah brothers, photographed just days after their mother left them to fend for themselves.T...
06/01/2026

This was one of two young cheetah brothers, photographed just days after their mother left them to fend for themselves.
They managed to bring down a newborn antelope, but as inexperienced hunters, they struggled to finish the job. After a long and determined effort, they finally earned the meal they had worked so hard for.
Here, one of the brothers proudly shows off his prize — a hard-won reminder that life in the wild offers no shortcuts, only lessons.
Taken in Masai Mara, Kenya, 9/2021.
(Nikon D5, f 5.6, 1/2500, ISO 1600, 500mm)
If you'd like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, please message/email us or click on the link in my profile.

This was the last day before this lioness introduced her cubs to the rest of the pride.They were getting older, more con...
05/27/2026

This was the last day before this lioness introduced her cubs to the rest of the pride.
They were getting older, more confident, and definitely more demanding. Everywhere she went, they followed — pouncing on her tail, biting her legs, and turning every step into a wrestling match. It was probably time to share the “burden” with the rest of the lions and let the older cubs help teach them some manners.
In this moment, she tried to walk away, but one cub grabbed onto her leg and leaped at her paw. She responded with a growl and a quick knockdown… but judging by his expression, he seemed convinced it was all part of the game.
Not easy being a single mom….
Taken in Olare Motorogi, Kenya, 3/2026.
(Nikon Z9, f 4, 1/1600, ISO 1400, 400mm)
If you'd like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, please message/email us or click on the link in my profile.

We followed her for nearly an hour as she searched for a place to cross the flooded river.The current was fierce, the wa...
05/21/2026

We followed her for nearly an hour as she searched for a place to cross the flooded river.
The current was fierce, the water level much higher than usual, but she was determined.
Every time we thought we had positioned ourselves perfectly for the crossing, she changed her mind and kept moving.
Eventually, we raced ahead to a spot we were convinced she’d use… only for her to double back and cross where she had been earlier.
Luckily, we still managed to catch the moment — even if from a bit farther away than we had hoped.
Wildlife photography is a mix of patience, planning, and sometimes… pure luck.
Taken in Naboisho, Kenya, 3/2026.
(Nikon Z9, f 5.6, 1/2000, ISO 8000, 560mm)
If you'd like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, please message/email us or click on the link in my profile.

We drove to one of our favorite parts of Masai Mara — the Black Rocks — hoping to find some cats relaxing on the kopjes....
05/19/2026

We drove to one of our favorite parts of Masai Mara — the Black Rocks — hoping to find some cats relaxing on the kopjes.
It didn’t take long before our spotter noticed a tiny golden speck on the horizon. As we got closer, the lions slowly came into view.
I asked our guide to stop at a distance rather than drive closer right away, because I wanted to try for a wider environmental shot. The grass was tall, so I lowered the camera almost to ground level, trying to make the lionesses appear as if they were floating above the grass while keeping the beautiful mountain backdrop behind them.
After a few attempts, I finally got the image I had envisioned, and only then did we move in a bit closer to simply enjoy their presence.
I love how relaxed they look in such a beautiful setting.
PS: I rarely say it, but this is the kind of image that needs to be appreciated on a big screen (or at least tilt your phone).
Taken in Masai Mara, Kenya, 3/2026.
(Nikon Z9, f 5.6, 1/2500, ISO 640, 490mm)
If you'd like to join us on an African safari or inquire regarding prints, please message/email us or click on the link in my profile.

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