The legendary Neil Young at the Rally in LA today. I worked hard for this spot. #fightoligarchy #rally #neilyoung

It was a joy to be with 36,000 of my fellow citizens in Los Angeles today to speak up against the madness and stand up to oligarchy. Legends Joan Baez and Neil Young brought tears to our eyes and Bernie and AOC brought the fire. These are a few quick select photos. #BernieSanders #photography

Look at this gorgeous little nug! I’ve never seen or photographed a California Quail on my property until today. Nature is a great escape from the state of the nation. #birds #photography

Dodger fans are good people and most of them are being terribly hurt by the policies of this administration. It boggles the mind that management went through with this dog and pony show at the White House today. Disappointing. Photo: @esmith_images #dodgers

A few photographs I made at yesterday’s #HandsOff demonstration in Downtown Los Angeles.

My friend has been deported. His only crime was wanting to make a better life for himself. This is not the America I grew up in. #deportations

Hollywoodland is what the sign used to say when it was a real estate advertisement. The eclectic mix of architectural styles is one of the great appeals of living here. I cracked open a book on LA architectural photographer Julius Shulman last night and was inspired to take a walk. #photography

Mother of Exiles. Now and forever. Photo: @esmithimages.bsky.social #america #immigration #phototography

Go Birds! 🦅 I photographed this guy in AK, but as a Philly native, he has some extra meaning today. #birdphotography #SuperBowl #Eagles

I photographed this Bald Eagle in Juneau harbor. The look on its face mirrors how I’m feeling about the state of the Nation. #birds #photography #america

I photographed firefighting heroes as they valiantly fought wind whipped flames from the air in the early hours of the Palisades Fire on January 7th. Trust me, their efforts were significantly more than a “token of defense.” Sickening. #lafires #photography

There have been times in my life when I realized I was a witness to history. I was a Lower Manhattan resident on 9/11 and am now an Angeleno during the Great Fires of 2025. Photographing these events for history is a way to cope. #photography

I photographed Malibu from a helicopter a few years ago. I wanted to capture the sunset beauty of my coastline. Tragically, nearly all of these homes were burned to the ground in the #palisadesfire this week. Please keep these people in your hearts. #lafires

Just when we thought it was dying down, the Palisades Fire has blown into something resembling a volcano. LAPD told me it was jumping the ridge near Mulholland Drive as it marches toward the San Fernando Valley. I shot these images from my neighborhood near the Hollywood Sign at 8:30 #palisadesfire

This is a video I shot from the Griffith Observatory as the Palisades Fire exploded on Tuesday. This is only three hours from the ignition. Listen to the wind to get a sense of the conditions. There is no fighting fire in hurricane force winds. #palisadesfire

I woke up to an apocalypse. My home is safe, but so many Angelenos are losing everything. My heart is breaking for my city. #la #wildfire #lafire

Scenes from today’s apocalypse in Los Angeles. I photographed these landscapes of the Palisades and Altadena from the Griffith Observatory. Keeping all who are losing their homes close to my heart. #palisadesfire #losangeles #pbotography

Did you know that hummingbirds eat insects as well as nectar? I caught this Anna’s eating gnats on my property. #birds #photography

Joe & I are vacationing on the same island. Wild to walk off my plane and see gleaming Air Force One across the tarmac! #photographers #joebiden #airforceone

There is nothing like seeking a volcanic eruption in person. I witnessed Kilauea’s eruption last year and made this video. It was amazing to see the caldera filling with lava again overnight. A Christmas gift from Pelé. #kilahuea #volcano #naturephotography

I’ve never seen a Mountain Chickadee on my property in LA until yesterday. I got a”lifer” notification on Merlin. Luckily I was able to get three photographs before it peaced out. Hoping it will be back today. Thanks, friend! #birds #photography

The Snowy egret is one of my favorite water birds. They are elegant but can also be really expressive and even goofy. I photographed this one at the Hollywood Reservoir in early evening light. #birds #photography

In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph thousands of people around the world. Indigenous people are some of the most beautiful humans that I’ve encountered. I made a portrait of this elder in the mountains near Tarapoto, Peru. #photography #portraits

Full moon over LA. Lucky to get the airplane photobomb! #moon #fullmoon #photography #sonyalpha

I saw reports that there was a Burrowing Owl at the Wetlands in Huntington Beach. I got up at the crack of dawn yesterday, drove an hour to get there and had to find this tiny bird in miles of wetlands, but I found him. This magical creature is straight from a Disney movie. #birds #photography

Merry Christmas from Vine Street. A postcard from Hollywood, taken last night. #photography #christmas#la

An arsonist burned much of my local wildlife reserve last night. I went this morning and crews were cutting down smoking trees. The birds were scarce, but this gorgeous little kestrel followed me around as I surveyed the damage. I feel so sorry that his habitat burned, but he’s resilient. #birds

I photographed these Northern Flickers on my hike around the Hollywood Reservoir this morning. I love how ornate their plumage is. Beautiful birds. #birds #photography

I gave this California Scrub Jay a few peanuts in the shell and now I have a friend for life. This smart and scrappy bird visits every day and lets me make portraits of him like this. When the humanity sucks, nature heals. #birds #photography #wildlife

Nightmare in Malibu as a new wildfire has broken out near Pepperdine University and Pacific Coast Highway. 850 acres at 2am. Sustained Santa Ana winds at 40mph. Send good thoughts to all my friends in Malibu, this is gonna be tough. #franklinfire #malibu

If there can be such a thing as an art deco bird, the Snowy Egret is it. They are so elegant. I photographed this one at the Hollywood Reservoir. #birds #photography #wildlife

I was photographing birds in a wetland near the Pacific Coast Highway and was packing up my gear as the I lost the light. A Great Blue Heron flew overhead and landed on these Dr. Seuss-like agave stalks. I unpacked the camera to make this silhouette. #birds #photography #wildlife #art

2024 was the year of the owls for me. Their tree was cut down in another part of the canyon and they relocated near me. This was the first rainy morning they appeared. I walked out on to my balcony and this beauty was in the tree looking right at me. #birds #photography

Look who hung out in my home office during my Zooms this afternoon. I think they are good luck. Since they are like little statues, I had the opportunity to light it and throw the camera on sticks. f22 gives you good detail. #photography #naturephotography #prayingmantis

Someone got breakfast 😳 (American Kestrel inhales lizard in LA) #birds #photography

Did you know that when hummingbirds retract their long tongue back into their beak, it coils up inside their head, wrapping around their skull? Wild stuff. I photographed this guy on my deck. #birds #photography

Gathering Storm Clouds. I photographed these rain clouds moving ashore in Provincetown, MA this year. I wanted to outrun the rain but was transfixed by the scene. When this elderly gentleman entered the picture, I had to take it. This feels like a metaphor for our national moment. #photography

I photographed this Northern Mockingbird today for my book on the birds of Hollywoodland. I always look for the Hollywood lighting on my hikes and this beauty was perched in it this morning. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! #birds #photography

After a week in Glacier Bay, Alaska without Bald Eagle photos that I felt good about, I was climbing the ramp in Juneau harbor and this incredible bird landed on the gate and just stared at me. I had a five minute photoshoot before my airport Uber showed up. Thanks, friend! #birds #photography

A Belted Kingfisher glides above the Basin in the fog of dawn. There’s a wonderful wildlife reserve smack the in the middle of the San Fernando Valley and early mornings there are a bonanza for bird photography. #birds #photography

Dawn in the liberal hellscape known as California. Shhh! don’t tell them… #photography

Ravens are large brilliant birds that can solve complex problems and fashion tools. This mated pair are frequent visitors to my property and it’s amazing to watch them have “clicking” conversations and even kiss with their beaks. #birds #photography

You never know what you’re gonna find in LA. I came upon a guy named Chan who owns a flock of Macaws and he was letting them fly in local park. It was an incredible sight! I asked if I could photograph them. This is one of the Scarlets. How do these colors exist in nature? #birds #photography

Even the most common birds are stunning if you really look at them. I photographed this rooster on a farm in the Andes Mountains. #birds #photography

If there’s one thing I know it’s that love transcends species. I’ve seen it displayed by animals all over the world. I photographed these wild mustangs in the hills north of Santa Barbara. To all of my new BlueSky friends, thanks for welcoming me! Let’s look for the light together. #photography

Hello, friend. Twenty years of living in Beachwood Canyon and I’d heard plenty of hooting but had only seen fleeting glimpses of Great Horned Owls until this year when they took up residence near my house. This year has been a bonanza for someone who loves to photograph wildlife. #birds #photography

I plan to spend a lot of time in nature and away from the news during the next few years. I had the opportunity to photograph Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic spring from a helicopter. It was truly a bucketlist moment. Do you have a favorite National Park? I’m looking for recommendations. #photography

Who’s gonna be next? Lots of ambassadorships to fill😭

Turkeys get a rap for being unintelligent, but this guy knew some shit. I photographed him on the land of a coffee farmer in rural Peru while documenting the work of the Rainforest Alliance. #photography #wildlifephotography #birds