Shawn Thomas Photography
@understudy77.bsky.social
Picture taker of nature and wildlife
Lover of birds and pretty sights
Clicker of links
Leader of incidents
Keeper of horrible hours
Advocator of equality
Practicer of kindness
Preferrer of big forks/small spoons
User of turn signals
www.shawnthomas.art
Lover of birds and pretty sights
Clicker of links
Leader of incidents
Keeper of horrible hours
Advocator of equality
Practicer of kindness
Preferrer of big forks/small spoons
User of turn signals
www.shawnthomas.art
This spread is a simple visual trick: I matched up the Green Heron with dark background and glowing orange wings, against the Kingfisher, a dark bird and a bright orange background. Color inversion for flow.
#wildlife #birds #greenheron #kingfisher
#wildlife #birds #greenheron #kingfisher
November 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
This spread is a simple visual trick: I matched up the Green Heron with dark background and glowing orange wings, against the Kingfisher, a dark bird and a bright orange background. Color inversion for flow.
#wildlife #birds #greenheron #kingfisher
#wildlife #birds #greenheron #kingfisher
Pulling a book spread today, three images that tell a story. From the open ocean Puffin to the coastal Black Skimmer to the marsh Osprey, it's the full journey of the eastern coastline. I love that wide cinematic look.
#birds #wildlife #panorama #coastlines #nature
#birds #wildlife #panorama #coastlines #nature
November 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Pulling a book spread today, three images that tell a story. From the open ocean Puffin to the coastal Black Skimmer to the marsh Osprey, it's the full journey of the eastern coastline. I love that wide cinematic look.
#birds #wildlife #panorama #coastlines #nature
#birds #wildlife #panorama #coastlines #nature
Well I did it, I pressed the buttons. My book is now officially available and I’ll be damned if it isn’t a combination of scary and exciting.
www.shawnthomas.art/biomes/
www.shawnthomas.art/biomes/
November 8, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Well I did it, I pressed the buttons. My book is now officially available and I’ll be damned if it isn’t a combination of scary and exciting.
www.shawnthomas.art/biomes/
www.shawnthomas.art/biomes/
I know I've been quiet this week, I was busy putting the finishing touches on this. I can still barely believe I'm saying this but, I made a book.
An 80 page snapshot of 18 months of chasing birds, landscapes, and the occasional Milky Way, told through my favorite images and stories.
More soon.
An 80 page snapshot of 18 months of chasing birds, landscapes, and the occasional Milky Way, told through my favorite images and stories.
More soon.
November 7, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I know I've been quiet this week, I was busy putting the finishing touches on this. I can still barely believe I'm saying this but, I made a book.
An 80 page snapshot of 18 months of chasing birds, landscapes, and the occasional Milky Way, told through my favorite images and stories.
More soon.
An 80 page snapshot of 18 months of chasing birds, landscapes, and the occasional Milky Way, told through my favorite images and stories.
More soon.
A deep cut from the archives. Forgot I even had this little raccoon peeking through the clover. It’s a great reminder that the best shots are often the ones that surprise you later.
#raccoon #wildlife #urbanwildlife
#raccoon #wildlife #urbanwildlife
November 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A deep cut from the archives. Forgot I even had this little raccoon peeking through the clover. It’s a great reminder that the best shots are often the ones that surprise you later.
#raccoon #wildlife #urbanwildlife
#raccoon #wildlife #urbanwildlife
When you spend a week at the beach, you get a backlog of Sanderlings. Worth the effort for this low perspective. You have to get the lens nearly on the sand to make the background melt into this golden glow.
#sanderling #birds #shorebirds #wildlife
#sanderling #birds #shorebirds #wildlife
November 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
When you spend a week at the beach, you get a backlog of Sanderlings. Worth the effort for this low perspective. You have to get the lens nearly on the sand to make the background melt into this golden glow.
#sanderling #birds #shorebirds #wildlife
#sanderling #birds #shorebirds #wildlife
Getting that Belted Kingfisher attitude on a windy day. The micro-motion of its ruffled feathers meant pushing the shutter speed way up, even though the bird wasn’t flying. You can feel the wind in this photo.
#kingfisher #beltedkingfisher #birds #wildlife
#kingfisher #beltedkingfisher #birds #wildlife
October 31, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Getting that Belted Kingfisher attitude on a windy day. The micro-motion of its ruffled feathers meant pushing the shutter speed way up, even though the bird wasn’t flying. You can feel the wind in this photo.
#kingfisher #beltedkingfisher #birds #wildlife
#kingfisher #beltedkingfisher #birds #wildlife
A White-breasted Nuthatch lifer and a keeper! The warm, glowing fall backdrop made the work easy today. Sometimes you just get a gift from the light.
#nuthatch #birds #wildlife #fallcolors
#nuthatch #birds #wildlife #fallcolors
October 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A White-breasted Nuthatch lifer and a keeper! The warm, glowing fall backdrop made the work easy today. Sometimes you just get a gift from the light.
#nuthatch #birds #wildlife #fallcolors
#nuthatch #birds #wildlife #fallcolors
Finally got out early enough to catch the fall colors with some heavy mist on the water. The fog makes the light so soft it’s almost impossible to take a bad picture. Worth the 6:30 AM alarm.
#mallard #birds #wildlife #misty #fallcolors
#mallard #birds #wildlife #misty #fallcolors
October 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Finally got out early enough to catch the fall colors with some heavy mist on the water. The fog makes the light so soft it’s almost impossible to take a bad picture. Worth the 6:30 AM alarm.
#mallard #birds #wildlife #misty #fallcolors
#mallard #birds #wildlife #misty #fallcolors
Love the dark, moody water in this shot of a juvenile wood duck. Getting the eye in focus while keeping the shadows deep requires shooting almost completely underexposed. Worth the effort for this mood.
#woodduck #duck #wildlife #birdphotography #birds
#woodduck #duck #wildlife #birdphotography #birds
October 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Love the dark, moody water in this shot of a juvenile wood duck. Getting the eye in focus while keeping the shadows deep requires shooting almost completely underexposed. Worth the effort for this mood.
#woodduck #duck #wildlife #birdphotography #birds
#woodduck #duck #wildlife #birdphotography #birds
Barred owls are so calm even when they know you're around. I love watching how they blend in until they slowly turn their head. Such a cool bird.
#owls #barredowl #wildlife #birdphotography
#owls #barredowl #wildlife #birdphotography
October 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Barred owls are so calm even when they know you're around. I love watching how they blend in until they slowly turn their head. Such a cool bird.
#owls #barredowl #wildlife #birdphotography
#owls #barredowl #wildlife #birdphotography
This Sanderling photo was a battle with the surf. Drop the camera low, grab the shot, then run before the wave got me. Loved the light and the action. #birds #Sanderling #shorebirds #wildlife
October 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This Sanderling photo was a battle with the surf. Drop the camera low, grab the shot, then run before the wave got me. Loved the light and the action. #birds #Sanderling #shorebirds #wildlife
This shot captures the mood I was going for. The Great Blue Heron dipping its bill created a great moment of action and reflection. Sometimes B&W is the only way to go. #birds #wildlife #monochrome
October 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This shot captures the mood I was going for. The Great Blue Heron dipping its bill created a great moment of action and reflection. Sometimes B&W is the only way to go. #birds #wildlife #monochrome
Wildlife photos fail the B&W test. But when color distracts, monochrome adds focus. I break down my 3 rules for deciding when to strip away color and focus on form, geometry, and texture. ➡️ Swipe and check out the full guide for better B&W conversions! #B&W #Wildlife #PhotoTips
October 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Wildlife photos fail the B&W test. But when color distracts, monochrome adds focus. I break down my 3 rules for deciding when to strip away color and focus on form, geometry, and texture. ➡️ Swipe and check out the full guide for better B&W conversions! #B&W #Wildlife #PhotoTips
Day 7 from my National Aviary bird portrait week ends with a wild one. This is the Steller’s Sea Eagle, one of the heaviest and most powerful eagles on Earth. Native to eastern Russia and Japan.
#birds #raptors #birdofprey #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #nationalaviary
#birds #raptors #birdofprey #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #nationalaviary
October 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Day 7 from my National Aviary bird portrait week ends with a wild one. This is the Steller’s Sea Eagle, one of the heaviest and most powerful eagles on Earth. Native to eastern Russia and Japan.
#birds #raptors #birdofprey #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #nationalaviary
#birds #raptors #birdofprey #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #nationalaviary
Day six of my National Aviary bird portrait week. A White-cheeked Turaco, native to East Africa. They eat mostly fruit and hop through branches. Their green color comes from a unique pigment.
#birds #nationalaviary #birdphotography #avianlife #birdfacts #wildlifephotography
#birds #nationalaviary #birdphotography #avianlife #birdfacts #wildlifephotography
October 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Day six of my National Aviary bird portrait week. A White-cheeked Turaco, native to East Africa. They eat mostly fruit and hop through branches. Their green color comes from a unique pigment.
#birds #nationalaviary #birdphotography #avianlife #birdfacts #wildlifephotography
#birds #nationalaviary #birdphotography #avianlife #birdfacts #wildlifephotography
Day five of my National Aviary portrait series.
Hyacinth Macaws are the largest parrots in the world and native to South America. Their beaks are strong enough to crack coconuts.
#birds #parrot #macaw #nationalaviary #birdphotography #avianportrait #wildlifephoto
Hyacinth Macaws are the largest parrots in the world and native to South America. Their beaks are strong enough to crack coconuts.
#birds #parrot #macaw #nationalaviary #birdphotography #avianportrait #wildlifephoto
October 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Day five of my National Aviary portrait series.
Hyacinth Macaws are the largest parrots in the world and native to South America. Their beaks are strong enough to crack coconuts.
#birds #parrot #macaw #nationalaviary #birdphotography #avianportrait #wildlifephoto
Hyacinth Macaws are the largest parrots in the world and native to South America. Their beaks are strong enough to crack coconuts.
#birds #parrot #macaw #nationalaviary #birdphotography #avianportrait #wildlifephoto
Day 4 of my National Aviary portrait series. Might be my favorite image from the day, hard to beat this intensity.
#birds #pelican #birdportrait #wildlifephotography #nationalaviary #birdphotography
#birds #pelican #birdportrait #wildlifephotography #nationalaviary #birdphotography
October 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Day 4 of my National Aviary portrait series. Might be my favorite image from the day, hard to beat this intensity.
#birds #pelican #birdportrait #wildlifephotography #nationalaviary #birdphotography
#birds #pelican #birdportrait #wildlifephotography #nationalaviary #birdphotography
Day three of my National Aviary bird portraits. The Southern Bald Ibis. A species I’ve never seen in the wild, and a rare chance to shoot a clean portrait like this at just 200mm.
#birds #ibis #wildlifephotography #birdportrait #birdphotography #nationalaviary
#birds #ibis #wildlifephotography #birdportrait #birdphotography #nationalaviary
October 15, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Day three of my National Aviary bird portraits. The Southern Bald Ibis. A species I’ve never seen in the wild, and a rare chance to shoot a clean portrait like this at just 200mm.
#birds #ibis #wildlifephotography #birdportrait #birdphotography #nationalaviary
#birds #ibis #wildlifephotography #birdportrait #birdphotography #nationalaviary
Day two of National Aviary Bird Portrait Week. The Black-faced Ibis was a species I’d never seen in person. Getting to photograph birds like this up close was a real highlight.
#birds #blackfacediis #birdportrait #wildlifephotography #aviarybirds #birdwatching #nationalaviary
#birds #blackfacediis #birdportrait #wildlifephotography #aviarybirds #birdwatching #nationalaviary
October 14, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Day two of National Aviary Bird Portrait Week. The Black-faced Ibis was a species I’d never seen in person. Getting to photograph birds like this up close was a real highlight.
#birds #blackfacediis #birdportrait #wildlifephotography #aviarybirds #birdwatching #nationalaviary
#birds #blackfacediis #birdportrait #wildlifephotography #aviarybirds #birdwatching #nationalaviary
Went to the Aviary for my kid’s 10th birthday and came home with a card full of portraits. Kicking off a weeklong feature with this crested coua, all style, all stare.
Blog coming tomorrow.
#birds #birdphotography #birdportrait #nationalaviary
Blog coming tomorrow.
#birds #birdphotography #birdportrait #nationalaviary
October 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Went to the Aviary for my kid’s 10th birthday and came home with a card full of portraits. Kicking off a weeklong feature with this crested coua, all style, all stare.
Blog coming tomorrow.
#birds #birdphotography #birdportrait #nationalaviary
Blog coming tomorrow.
#birds #birdphotography #birdportrait #nationalaviary