Marty’s photo of the day #4899: Striped surgeonfish are fast and skittish, making them somewhat difficult to photograph. Their bright colors make it worth the effort. Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea. #photography #sealife

Marty’s photo of the day #4899: In addition to the amazing underwater life in the Raja Ampat region of Indonesian New Guinea, the above water life is pretty cool too. This is an orchid swallowtail butterfly on a peacock flower. #photography #nature

Marty’s photo of the day #4898: The giant clams of the Raja Ampat were absolutely stunning. This is one of my favorites. It’s hard to believe that this is a living thing. #photography #nature

Marty’s photo of the day #4897: The first time I saw these in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea, I thought they were a type of angelfish. But they are much bigger, reaching 19 inches across, and quite shy. Later, I learned they are golden spadefish. #photography #sealife

Marty’s photo of the day #4896: This as a clownfish, which is just one of many species of anemonefish. The Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea supports the greatest number of fish species in the world, resulting in me seeing more species of anemonefish than I knew existed. #photography #nature

Marty’s photo of the day #4895: While in Indonesian New Guinea, I saw more species of crab than I’d seen anywhere in the world—from the size of a pea to the size of a coconut. Eventually, I’ll post photos of them all. Today I’m featuring one of my favorites: a ghost crab. #photography #nature

One of the highlights Deb's and my trip to the Raja Ampat was to snorkel with whale sharks that are attracted to an open-ocean fishing platform. There were four whale sharks in all, and they would surface from the deep, lifting us up before we could get out of the way. They felt like rubber.

Marty’s photo of the day #4894: I’ve loved photography for most of my life but didn’t get into underwater photography until Deb and I spent a week on the Sea of Cortez in 2016. I’ve upgraded my underwater camera three times . . . (Click ALT and tap text for the rest of the story) #photography

Marty’s photo of the day #4893: After 3 days of traveling, including 5 airplane flights and a 2-hour speedboat ride across open ocean, Deb and I are back home from the Raja Ampat region of Indonesian New Guinea. (Click ALT and tap the text for the rest of this post.) #photography #sealife #nature

Marty’s photo of the day #4892: Deb and I are on our way back from sailing in the Raja Ampat region of Indonesian New Guinea. Our first day was an outstanding indicator of what was to come. (Click ALT and tap text for full story.) #photography #sealife #underwater

Greetings from Indonesia! Deb and I have spent the past three weeks in the Raja Ampat (the Coral Triangle) region of Indonesian New Guinea. Much of it sailing on The Katharina (pictured), which is a traditional pinisi ship, built by the Bugis people. (Click ALT for the rest of this post.) #travel

Marty’s photo of the day #4891: Canada geese in flight. Photographed in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. #birds #photography #Montana

Marty’s photo of the day #4890: Gentoo penguins on an island off the coast of Antarctica. #birds #photography

Marty’s photo of the day #4889: This is a spectacled flying fox, photographed in Queensland, Australia. #photography #wildlife

Marty’s photo of the day #4888: A moose portrait. Photographed in the Essen Wildlife Refuge, Montana. #photography #wildlife #Montana

Marty’s photo of the day #4887: Prairie dog, photographed at the American Prairie, Montana. #photography #wildlife #Montana

Marty’s photo of the day #4886: For this photo, I am in the rainforest on the island of Borneo, standing inside an old strangler fig, with my camera pointed straight up. #photography #nature

Marty’s photo of the day #4885: This is a Venezuelan troupial, photographed last year in Bonaire. As the name suggests, the are native to Venezuela. Apparently they were introduced to the island in 1973, when a local friar released some there. #birds #photography

Marty’s photo of the day #4884: Nellie gets credit for spotting this great horned owl. The owl is right outside my writing room window. Nellie barked at first, but now that the owl is asleep, she is just staring at it with an occasional low growl. I think the owl has settled in for the day. #birds

The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles has won 2 more awards! I can’t divulge the names of the 5th or the 6th awards until the results are released. Also, the sequel, The Silver Squad Rides Again, is now in the hands of my editor. Info and buy links are here: martyessen.com/books #booksky #books

Marty’s photo of the day #4883: I photographed this tiny frog in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru. The closest ID I could find is a Luscombe's rain frog, but I’m not positive it is correct. #photography #rainforest

The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles has won a 5th award! I can’t divulge the name of the award until the results are officially released on December 1st. Also, the sequel, The Silver Squad Rides Again, is now in the hands of my editor. Info and buy links are here: martyessen.com/books #Booksky

Marty’s photo of the day #4882: I have two exotic trips coming up. In preparation, I decided to test my cameras and lenses. I stepped outside and photographed just about the least exotic wild animal on the planet: a squirrel. I intended to examine the photo and delete it. Then I decided I liked it.

Marty’s photo of the day #4881: Happy Halloween from the bats of Costa Rica. #photography #CostaRica #wildlife

Marty’s photo of the day #4880: Today we go with a scenic shot along the coast of Puerto Rico. And for any Republicans seeing this: Puerto Rico is part of the United States. #photography

Marty’s photo of the day #4879: If you live in America, where the party in power gets its rocks off by being vindictive and cruel, it’s important to keep in mind that their time is limited. Most of us will see their fall. In the meantime, here’s some baby duck cuteness to reflect on. #birds

Marty’s photo of the day #4878: Somewhere in Montana—the summer of 2020.

Marty’s photo of the day #4877: I love the feeling the bison projects for this photo. “Don’t fuck with me!” #photography #wildlife

Marty’s photo of the day #4876: Union jack butterfly, photographed in northern Queensland, Australia. #photography

I updated the Books page on my website (martyessen.com/books), because I’m advertising in the Mother Jones magazine Holiday Gift Giving Guide, and the ad links to that page. Profiting off the ad is unlikely, but it’s important to support journalists who refuse to bend a knee to #Felon47. #booksky

Marty’s photo of the day #4875: This photo is from a hike along the Bitterroot River in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana earlier this week. As beautiful as this scene is, 69 percent of the people in the valley voted for Trump—meaning they are bitter about . . . (click ALT for the rest) #photography

I haven’t posted a rant all week, as I’ve had better things to do with my creativity. Okay, maybe just this: “May the fleas of a thousand Steve Bannons infest his diapers.” End of rant. #Felon47 #Trump #Fascist

I updated the Books page on my website, because I’m advertising in the Mother Jones magazine Holiday Gift Giving Guide, and the ad links to that page. Profiting off the ad is unlikely, but I think it’s important to support journalists who refuse to bend a knee to #Felon47. martyessen.com/books/

Marty’s photo of the day #4874: I named Nellie after the “Holy Smokin’ Hot Nellie,” in my first novel, Time Is Irreverent. The real Nellie was so excited about playing in the Bitterroot River yesterday that she outdid the fictional Nellie. She walked on water! #photography #Montana

Marty’s photo of the day #4873: Whenever I go to Spokane, breakfast at Frank’s Diner (an old railroad car) is on my list. When Deb and I showed up, the morning after the Garbage concert, the wait to get a seat was 30-45 minutes. (Click ALT and tap text for the rest of the story) #photography

Marty’s photo of the day #4872: The many colors of the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, where I live. #photography #Montana

Marty’s photo of the day #4871: Iguana, photographed on the island of Bonaire. #phorography #wildlife

Marty’s photo of the day #4870: Eventually, I’m going to run out of Antarctica iceberg photos. But not yet. I haven’t posted this one before. #photography #nature

I just got back from a weekend trip to Spokane to see Garbage. I was wondering how political Shirley Manson was going to get, and she answered that with her first words from stage, “Happy No Kings Day motherfuckers!” (Click ALT and tap text for the rest of the post) #NoKings #Garbage #Music

Marty’s photo of the day #4869: This is Split Rock Lighthouse, on Lake Superior, in Minnesota. #photography #Minnesota

Marty’s photo of the day #4868: A monkey frog for No Kings Day. (Photographed in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru) #photography #wildlife

Marty’s photo of the day #4867: A little Friday morning cuteness. #photography

Marty’s photo of the day #4866: This is a fer-de-lance, photographed on a night hike in Costa Rica. Even though this venomous snake species kills more people than any other snake in the western hemisphere, they avoid people. Bites happen most often when they are stepped on. #photography #wildlife

Marty’s photo of the day #4865: Scarlet macaw, photographed in the Costa Rica. #birds #photography

Marty’s photo of the day #4864: Desert tortoise, photographed in the Mojave Desert. #photography #wildlife

Marty’s photo of the day #4863: This is Martha the moose. She is a part-time resident of the Essen Wildlife Refuge (Montana). #photography #wildlife #Montana

Marty’s photo of the day #4863: A mother bison cleaning her calf after a swim. (Photographed in Yellowstone National Park) #photography #Yellowstone

Marty’s photo of the day #4862: I almost missed this one. It’s a three-banded courser, photographed in Zimbabwe. #birds #photography

Marty’s photo of the day #4862: Green tree frog, photographed in Queensland, Australia.

Marty’s photo of the day #4861: This is a crested caracara. Also called a Mexican eagle, the bird is actually in the falcon family. (Photographed in Bonaire) #birds #photography