Also known as a Striped Gopher, this 13-lined ground squirrel was caught holding a bouquet of grass that he will store in his burrow so he can survive the winter. His heartbeat goes from 150 beats/minute to one beat every few minutes during hibernation. This image was captured as I was about to drive away from Port Crescent State Park, Port Austin, Michigan USA. Unfortunately, you can see in his bouquet is a swizzle stick from a careless human and goes to show that we must always be vigilant when enjoying nature.
I’ve come to see how my deep connection to nature has profoundly shaped my path as a visual artist. Today, I’m driven by a desire to share the breathtaking elegance and understated power of the natural world. For me, photography is more than just capturing images—it’s about honoring the artistry and beauty of nature itself and the joy I find in preserving those extraordinary moments in time. As an award-winning artist in the medium of digital photography, Max has his work showcased on this website, publishes his monthly Blog - the Tripod Traveler, offers guided photography tours in Valencia.