Astro Mammoth Studio

10/20/2026

I decided to take a different approach with this close-up of a bull elk from my recent trip to Pennsylvania.

Converting it to black and white really brought out the details in his fur and antlers. I also liked how the insects flying around him became little white specks scattered throughout the image. Rather than being a distraction, I thought they added something interesting to the photograph.

Sometimes it's worth looking at a scene a little differently to see what stands out.

What do you think? Do you prefer this black and white version, or would you rather see it in color?

10/18/2026

I was planning to share more photos from my Pennsylvania elk trip, but I had an unexpected encounter this morning that I just had to share!

It was only about 30 degrees, and fog was rising off the river as I headed out looking for eagles in my local area. While scanning the water, I noticed some shapes swimming up onto a rock in the distance. When I finally got my camera on them, I couldn't believe my eyes. Three otters!

They were so far away that I decided to put my 1.4x teleconverter on my 600mm lens to get a closer look. I slowly worked my way down toward the water, trying not to spook them, and found a spot in some brush where I could crouch down and watch. I managed to capture some photos and video as I watched them.

After a while, they started swimming along the bank toward me, staying close to the grasses at the water's edge. Then they slipped underwater, and moments later, two of them popped up on a log right in front of me! They were so close that I couldn't even fit one completely in the frame with my 600mm lens and 1.4x teleconverter. I did manage to get a nice portrait, though.

I was filming mostly while they were on the log, but when I switched back to still photography, the sound of my camera caught their attention. They jumped off the log and back into the water. I only got to watch them for a little bit longer before they disappeared. With the whole river to escape into, they could have gone just about anywhere, and I never saw which direction they went.

I'm glad I was able to capture a few moments on video, and I'll have more of that to share soon!

It was an amazing experience, and a good reminder that you never know what you might encounter when you head out with your camera. Sometimes, the best moments are the ones you never planned for.

10/15/2026

There's nothing quite like hearing bull elk bugle during the fall rut. Here are three moments from my recent trip to Pennsylvania Elk Country.

10/13/2026

A few highlights from my trip to Pennsylvania elk country during the fall rut! This is just a small glimpse of the bugling bulls, battles, and other moments I captured during the trip.

For those who don’t usually watch YouTube Shorts, I’m sharing this here as a Facebook Reel, too!

10/11/2026

This year on my trip to Pennsylvania for the elk rut, I spent more time taking video alongside my photography. I put together a video featuring some of my best captures from the trip, including bugling bulls, battles between bulls, and other moments from elk country, along with some of my favorite still images.

Check out The Elk Rut: Bugling Bulls & Battles in Pennsylvania Elk Country!

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/zQmLvQvyNYM

Join me in Pennsylvania's PA Elk Country during the 2026 elk rut! O...

10/10/2026

I wanted to share a few more photos from my trip to photograph the PA elk! I’m having a hard time choosing a favorite, but these are definitely up there.

Getting to watch and photograph these incredible animals during the rut made for some unforgettable experiences. Each encounter offered something a little different, and it’s tough to pick just a few favorites.

Which of these photos stands out to you?

10/04/2026

Two more images from my recent trip to photograph the Pennsylvania elk.

The first is a large bull letting out a powerful bugle during the rut. The second is a bull with some impressive, wide, atypical antlers standing watch over two females.

There were so many incredible moments during this trip, and I’m still working my way through thousands of photos and videos. More from the trip coming soon.

10/03/2026

One of the highlights from my recent trip photographing the Pennsylvania elk.

This bull started bugling while lying in the field, then stood up and bugled again. The sound of a bull elk during the rut is something you really have to experience. Sorry for the background laughter as there were a lot of people around.

I put together a short clip from the encounter. Be sure to rotate your screen when prompted for the best view.

▶️ Watch the Short on YouTube: https://youtube.com/shorts/xmnqUbKbYQw

I have a lot more photos and video from the trip to go through, so there will be plenty more to share.

A bull elk starts bugling while lying in the field, then gets to hi...

10/02/2026

Just got back from another trip to Pennsylvania’s elk country, and it was a great trip. It started off a bit rainy, but I still had some great experiences along the way.

I’m only just starting to go through the around 3,000 photos and videos from the trip, but I thought I’d share one of the first shots that caught my eye. A big bull bugling in the field, with a bit of grass still hanging from his antlers.

There’s a lot to sort through, so this is just the beginning. I’ll be sharing more images and video from the trip over the coming days and weeks as I work my way through everything.

If you enjoy Pennsylvania elk and wildlife photography, keep an eye out for what’s coming.

09/28/2026

Grateful to have my photo selected in the contest and included in the gallery showing. It’s nice to have my work recognized and to be included in the exhibition. Thank you to everyone who made it possible.