Pandemic Inspired Adventures

Photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins travels to the world’s wild places with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. An inspiring teacher, Ralph leads workshops for National Geographic Expeditions, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, and Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. 

Not this past year. Plan to be entertained as Ralph recounts his adventures as he attempted to stay (presumably) safe and sane.

Ralph Lee Hopkins is returning to tell us about how he continued his photographic endeavors when the pandemic disrupted his primary work with Linblad Expeditions.  As Ralph describes it:

“The stars aligned this summer with the arrival of comet NEOWISE. 

Safe escape from my bubble in Charlotte, North Carolina, was already planned when I heard astronomers had discovered a new comet in our night sky. I paid no attention until I read that comet NEOWISE was going to be visible in mid-to-late July, and that it wouldn’t be back in the view from Earth for another 6800 years. I can’t wait that long. The chase was on!

Comet NEOWISE presented the perfect opportunity to explore the dark skies of Utah. The comet also presented the perfect opportunity to test the Starry Sky Autofocus feature on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, my newest camera and one of the hottest mirrorless digital cameras on the market today for astro photographers.

But wait, there’s more… 

 
In October, I left the bubble again and headed back out west. This time to chase fall color in Colorado, look for wolves in Yellowstone, and be with the grizzly bears in the Grand Tetons. 

 
The highlight of that trip was seeing the famous bear 399, who this year had 4, count them, four cubs. I spent hours watching 399 teaching her young to hunt and dig for ground squirrels and other burrowing rodents.

 
And then there’s the story about meeting the Desert Doctor. But for that, you’ll have to wait for my presentation.

 
It’s been a strange year with my regular travel schedule on the National Geographic ships cancelled. Luckily for me, I was able to escape to the wilds of the American West to feed my soul.”

Check out Ralph’s website:  https://ralphleehopkins.zenfolio.com