Bear Island Birds                                                          2/21/12

My daughters were out of school on Monday for Presidents day, so we decided to spend the last day of the long weekend shooting and viewing some wildlife at Bear Island Wildlife Management Area. The area is closed much of the winter for duck hunting, so I always try to get there to shoot soon after it reopens to the general public in February. On the hour long drive down I asked the girls (as I always do) what they'd like to see on our trip. Alligators as usual topped the list, and Caroline busts out with a black swan. Of course gators won't be a problem, but I explain to Caroline that there aren't any black swans, at least not wild and in the U.S. She sticks with it and we continue on.

Before we get to the entrance to Bear Island we've already seen several bald eagles, a few flocks of white pelicans and assorted other wading birds and waterfowl. We stop briefly at a few ponds on the way in and as we arrive at our first stop, there it is: a black swan floating in the middle of the pond. "Booo Ya!!!" was her response.

Backyard Feeding Frenzy                                             2/14/12

The birds have been feasting on the berries growing in the trees above our backyard. Huge flocks of robins and cedar waxwings swarm in and out in waves. My boat cover has taken a beating, but it makes a great blind. I shot a couple of rounds of the feeding, one from our upstairs bathroom window and one from the boat, tucked under the cover with the end of my 500mm lens sticking out the back.

Cedar Waxwing bending over backwards in my backyard Cedar Waxwing taking a break from gorging on berries This yellow-rumped warbler almost landed on my lens when he flew up to the window to check me out A robin feeding on berries checks his balance with a flap of his wings This waxwing took a short break before being chased off by the robin above Two waxwings gobbling down berries, they would swallow 10 or 15 quickly before darting off

Winter?                                                                          2/7/12

Let me begin by saying that after 30 real winters split between Massachusetts and Colorado, I was ready for a change and the Lowcountry's short moderate winters were exactly what I was looking for. However, this "winter" has been a little crazy. It's been regularly in the 70s and 2 days ago it hit 80. The azaleas in our yard started to bloom 2 weeks ago and will most likely be done before March. So, with all this warm weather, what's a guy to do...GO FISHING!!

Despite the tropical weather, the water remains clear and the redfish are schooled up in huge groups, but with mild water temperatures are much more inclined to eat then usual. So, I've been out a shooting a bunch with Captain Jeremy Mehlhaff (CharlestonShallows.com) stocking up on clear water images.

The first redfish of the day reflects the foggy sunrise Captain Jeremy Mehlhaff of Charleston Shallows hoists a redfish in the fog Releasing another fly caught redfish into the clear winter water Redfish tailing over a shallow flat A school of at least a hundred redfish A river otter checking us out through the fog Happy schooling fish Joe Benton fights a Lowcountry Redfish with Captains Jeremy Mehlhaff and John Irwin Big redfish on a perfect winter day Sunrise and lifting fog at low tide

Everglades Anniversary                                                  2/2/12

A year ago I was enjoying my first full day of my residency in the Artist in Residence in Everglades program. It was truly an amazing experience and privilege to spend 3 full weeks immersed in such an amazing place. Unfortunately I won't be able to return to the Glades in 2012, but I do have shoots scheduled in the Bahamas and Crested Butte, Colorado so I can't complain. I recently spent a little time going back through the 10,000 or so images and edited up a few in honor of the one-year anniversary.

Great White Heron in Florida Bay White Pelicans wintering in Florida Bay Young Sawfish in Whitewater Bay Loggerhead Shrike in the Everglades Alligator tail at Anhinga Trail A few gator babies out of a group of well over a hundred at Shark Valley A monarch rests on a resting gator at Anhinga Trail A Red-Shouldered Hawk at Flamingo at sunrise A sunrise over the grasslands

Resolution?                                                                  1/24/12

Does anybody really keep resolutions? So, I promised to post more, and it's been 20 days, I will really try to do better. I've been busy plugging away on a few book projects (both small and large), working with some new and old clients and getting out on the water to shoot with Captain Jeremy Mehlhaff and some new friends. Here are some shots from the last few weeks:

Happy New Year!                                                          1/4/12

Happy New Year everyone! I'm sorry I've been so slack lately about posting, sounds like a good resolution for the new year. The end of the year was a blur of holidays, family visits and a lot of stock business and Christmas print orders. In the new year I received my copies of the new Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine featuring an article I wrote. The Top of the Lowcountry article is illustrated with 8 photographs and I got the front and back covers as well! Big thanks to Captain Jeremy Mehlhaff (CharlestonShallows.com) and Captain Newman Weaver (GTownKingfisher.com) for all their help with knowledge and modeling.

In the new year I hope to continue working with the great clients and friends I've gotten to know and to continue expanding my business into different industries.

Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine cover with Captain Newman Weaver Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine Cover and article on the Top of the Lowcountry Captain Jeremy Mehlhaff prepares to release one of the last tailers of the year A redfish rips line off of an Orvis reel Another fly caught redfish on a winter flat

Fall Critters                                                                11/16/11

I shot at Folly Beach a few times in the last week looking for a new monarch tree. If you hit it right during the fall migration you can find a pine tree near the dunes covered with monarchs huddled on cold mornings waiting for the sun to warm them so they can continue their long journey to Mexico. There were plenty of monarchs around but the temperature was a bit off both mornings I tried.

I also shot at the Magnolia Plantation Swamp Garden on a foggy morning yesterday. It's a transitional time there, a few ducks are in but it is pretty quiet. About half way through my walk, I was thinking it was going to be a bust. Then I heard a splash and saw some quick movements underneath the duck weed. What followed was a half hour of chasing an otter around the swamp. The light was pretty poor, but I don't get to see otters very often, especially cooperative ones. In my first minute or two of running up and down the path trying to keep up with the otter, I almost stepped on a little cottonmouth on the side of the trail. When the otter finally disappeared into the swamp, I went back to shoot the cottonmouth, who although a bit annoyed, was a willing model.

Migrating monarchs stop along Folly Beach to gain strength for the long journey south Close up of a feeding monarch butterfly This morning the flowers were empty River otter in the duck weed at Magnolia Plantation's Swamp Garden The otter couldn't resist checking me out each time he heard the shutter Cottonmouth showing off his weapons and his namesake Non-venomous water snakes have round pupils, if you're close enough to identify a cottonmouth this way, back up!

Architectural Details                                                 11/10/11

I had a shoot last week for Morris Architecture of a renovation to a big South of Broad property. I shot a few rooms in the downstairs guest quarters including some fun detail shots. Here are a few:

Architectural Detail shot of Livingroom Chandelier Architect Buz Morris designed this kitchenette for the downstairs guest quarters Tile detail in the kitchenette Architectural detail of the mantle in one of the bedrooms

Two Fishing Magazines                                               11/3/11

I received two fishing magazines in the last two days featuring my photography. The first came via email, a tailing redfish shot in a gallery style online fly fishing magazine: Catch Magazine- www.catchmagazine.net. The second showed up with the snail mail this morning, the small piece I mentioned last post that I wrote and shot on Kiawah Island Fly Fishing for Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine.

Tailing Redfish photo featured in the Blue article in Catch Magazine: www.catchmagazine.net Kiawah Island article I wrote and shot for Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine

I are a writer.                                                            10/28/11

I received my first check in the mail yesterday for writing, so it's official, I are a writer! It was for a small piece in Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine which will be followed by a feature article soon and several more in the next year with EFF and Southwest Fly Fishing Magazine as well. I guess it's about time as I am the last one in my family to be published. We all must find our own path. So with these articles in mind, I've been out shooting more fishing to accompany them and for other commercial endeavors. Here are a few shots from the last couple of weeks on the water.

Kiawah Island Marsh at high tide An early morning thunderstorm passes just offshore Tailing redfish on a calm flat When the tails aren't up in the air you have to look for more subtle signs Captain Jeremy Mehlhaff admires a nice tailing redfish before release This tailing redfish swam to within a foot of the boat before spooking

A Quick Folly Beach Shoot                                       10/19/11

The weatherman called for rain, but the sun rose and the sky was filled with perfect puffy clouds. So I grabbed my gear and ran down to Folly Beach to take a little walk and shoot whatever there was to shoot. I walked to the north end by the Morris Island Lighthouse passing through fields of yellow flowers. I tried for a specific butterfly shot I've been thinking of for a while but they were not cooperating. Once at the beach I shot some lighthouse shots and some abstract macro stuff before rounding the corner to the marsh side. There, I shot the swarms of fiddler crabs and a surprisingly cooperative peregrine falcon.

A Dead Tree Frames the Morris Island Lighthouse The Morris Island Lighthouse from the North End of Folly Beach Bubbles on the beach Butterly photo missing something Folly sea oats and the Cooper River Bridge One brave fiddler crab stays to protect the masses A peregrine falcon flying over the North end of Folly Beach

Rainy Days and UPS Surprises                                  10/12/11

We've had what feels like weeks of rain but in reality it's been five days or so that I have not been able to get out and shoot. No matter how busy I am too many days at the computer make my back hurt and I get extremely stir crazy. Two deliveries at the end of the day helped to lift my spirits though. First, I received a beautiful coffee table book from clients Shope Reno Wharton Architects. An image from a Kiawah shoot I did for them last spring is prominently displayed in the forward. Next a box of my mother's new book of poetry, Things To Say To A Dead Man arrived featuring my photography on the covers.

It's always nice to have a coffee table full of your own work.

Another Schermer Pecan Shoot                                  9/30/11

I had another shoot this week with Stitch Design Co. (stitchdesignco.com) for Schermer Pecans. We did another round of product shots of the new packaging Amy and Courtney designed for them and again, may have tasted a few in the process.

Roasted and salted pecans by Schermer Pecans with a recipe and an antique nutcracker Schermer Pecan Packaging shoot at Stitch Design Family cookbook with pecans Shermer Pecans' new giftboxes Chocalate covered pecans-YUM!

Yorktown Files                                                            9/26/11

I received the selects from Patriots Point for the Yorktown shoot last week and was able to finish up editing all the master files. Here are a few more from the shoot:

USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier at Dusk Sunset from the South Pier at Patriots Point A close up shot of the USS Yorktown Sunrise on the Flight Deck The USS Yorktown at Sunrise

Bugs and Ponds                                                           9/12/11

I spent a few days recently shooting for my upcoming bug book and a short story project on ponds. The challenges included finding honeybees and tricking frogs. As it turns out most of the bees you see around here are carpenter bees, bumblebees, yellow-jackets and different wasps as well. But I managed to find a few eventually and got the shots I needed. I found a few frogs at some local ponds but was looking for a shot of one on a lily pad and they were not cooperating. So I returned the next day with my flyrod, cut the hook off a big dry fly and teased the frog up on to a pad for his closeup.

Lots of Fishing Photography                                        8/18/11

I shot a lot of fishing in the last few weeks for fishing guide clients and future magazine work. I split my time shooting with Captain Rob Beglin up in Georgetown and Captain Jeremy Mehlhaff in the Charleston area. On one trip local ER Doc and champion tarpon fisherman Dr. David Dalu joined Jeremy and myself for a shoot. Here are some shots from a few of the fishing shoots:

Editorial and Commercial Work                                   8/3/11

I spent the last couple of weeks working for a number of different commercial clients and finishing up work on an article I'm writing and shooting for Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine. One of the shoots was for local marketing company Rawle Murdy and their client Patriots Point. We shot in and around the Yorktown for a couple of days. Despite the heat it was a great shoot with great people.

The USS Yorktown all lit up at dusk, Patriots Point A Date at dusk on the South Pier, Patriots Point on Charleston Harbor Hangar Bay II inside the USS Yorktown Captain Newman Weaver and angler cast at tailing redfish Captain Newman of Georgetown Guide Service poling into the sunset Tailing redfish preparing for release in North Inlet, DeBordieu Plantation, SC A dolphin playing in the giant bow wake of a shipping vessel exiting Charleston Harbor

Charleston Magazine Cover and Photo Essay             7/26/11

I just returned from a week out of town and received my copy of the August Charleston Magazine with my wildlife photo essay and cover! It was great to finally work with the fantastic people over at Charleston Magazine and I'm extremely happy with the way it turned out. They had social media voting on Facebook and Twitter to choose which one of my photos would be on the cover and the bobcat won. You can check out some of the pages here, or better yet go pick up a copy of the magazine to see all 10 pages. You can also check out the voting and chime in if you'd like at: Charleston Mag's Facebook page or go to CharlestonMag.com to see more.

Crested Butte, Colorado                                               7/6/11

Last week we went on a summer family trip to our old adopted home-town, Crested Butte, CO. We had a great trip visiting with great friends and reintroducing our children to the rivers and mountains of the West. Crested Butte had a huge snow year (that went way too long) so the rivers were swollen and the wildflowers were amazing. We floated the Gunnison and Taylor rivers rode the chairlift to the peak and four-wheeled way into the backcountry to show our daughters' some of our favorite places. It was not a photo trip, but I did manage to take a few shots along the way.

A close-up shot of lupine, near West Brush Creek, Crested Butte, CO The Gunnison River near Neversink Red Lady Bowl at sunset shot from Crested Butte South Lupine with Whetstone Mountain in the background from our friends' backyard Broad-tailed Hummingbird near Cement Creek Lupines and aspens up West Brush Creek Exploring way up West Brush Creek at the base of Teocali Mountin The view from a friend's backcountry cabin Nothing like a Fourth of July snowball fight (We are definitely not in Charleston!!) Cold dry nights and 9000 feet of elevation make for great starry skies

Schermer Pecan Shoot With Stitch Design Co.           6/16/11

I had a product shoot this week with Amy and Courtney at Stitch Design Co. (stitchdesignco.com) They just finished a new logo and packaging line for their client, Schermer Pecan Company from Glenville Georgia. We spent the morning shooting the various products in and out of the new packaging while Amy and Courtney shared the styling. We took advantage of the great light streaming into their Cannon Street office and may have sampled a tiny bit of product for inspiration.

Schermer Pecans' new logo and packaging designed by Stich Design Co Product close-up of Schermer Pecans Roasted Salted Pecans Close-up of my personal favorite, Schermer's Cinnamon Glazed Pecans Dark Chocolate pecans in their newly designed packaging Pecans with an antique nut cracker Product shot of dark chocolate pecans Group photo of several bags of Schermer Pecans and their new packaging

More Time on the Water                                            6/13/11

I spent more time on the water shooting for the fly-fishing articles I mentioned before my Smokies trip. Several of my trips were with Captain Jeremy Mehlhaff of CharlestonShallows.com exploring some new areas and catching a few sunrises and sunsets while throwing flies.

The Smokies                                                                 6/6/11

I took a quick trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week with my daughters who just got out of school for the summer. I can't believe I've never been there! It's an easy five-hour drive and an amazing place. We stayed just outside the park in Townsend Tennessee for two nights and spent every day-light hour exploring and searching for bears. We ended the trip with a count of 19 bears and at least half were cubs. We will return soon!

Sunrise in the Smokies The Roaring Fork Cascading Outside of Gatlinburg, TN A Coyote Running Through the Early Morning Meadows at Cades Cove A Foggy Morning in Cades Cove A Smoky Mountain Butterfly A Mama Bear and one of Her Three Cubs A Solo Bear Takes a Break From Grazing Two Cubs Battle in the Shade

March/April/May 2011

CharlestonSCPhotoBlog.com
I will be sharing my photos of Charleston, Kiawah and The Lowcountry's natural and man-made world with you, as well as my thoughts on photography, nature and life in the Lowcountry. I hope you enjoy it and come back often.

To book me, inquire about buying or licensing an image, or just want to chat email me at jason@jasonstemple.com

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