Spring Macro Adventures

During winter, there's not a lot of photographic opportunities, except for a handful of birds that visit my Ohio forest. But as spring approaches, the bees, wasps and butterflies are beginning to emerge. I've been playing with a new macro setup and have had a blast photographing the greatest detail of some of our world's smallest creatures. Mason bee.   Northern paper wasp.   Honey bee.   Red admiral butterfly.   Northern paper wasp.   Honey bee.   Brown marmorated stink bug.   Mason bee.   Long-spurred meadow katydid.   Northern paper wasp.   Red admiral butterfly.   Bumble bee.   Northern paper wasp.   Mason bee.   Spider.

Featured at Toll House Gallery

I'm excited to announce you can now find my work at the Toll House Art Gallery & Gift Shop located in Roscoe Village. There you can find a wide variety of artwork created by talented local artists. At the Toll House, I have framed photos, matted prints, wildlife button pins, and more available for purchase. Address: 408 North Whitewoman Street in Coshocton, OH 43812. Thank you for your support, it means everything to me. 

A Wildlife Close Call

The other day, I had a wildlife close call. I was blessed with limitless golden hour light which lasted all day, making for a brilliant range of photographic opportunities. More to come, but first there I was... (isn't that how all great stories begin?) I was hiking around Sprague Lake trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. It was a perfect day with ideal autumn weather. The path hugged a small pristine lake, backdropped by white-capped mountains and clear blue skies. First, I followed a bunch of brook trout swimming along the crystal clear stream leading me to the lake. I saw five glistening green mallard heads pop up out of the water, then each disappeared almost in unison. They dove underwater, leaving their dancing white booties bobbing while their orange feet treaded water. It was equally adorable and hilarious at the same time. I came around a blind bend where the path hugs a large boulder. I found myself 10-feet away from three large female elk. The closest shot up straight. Her ears perked up and her brow furled. Suddenly, she started toward me. I turned and hightailed it off path, cameras swinging wildly to each side. I climbed up behind the boulder in search of safe vantage point. I reached the top and froze, realizing I was surrounded by at least 40 female elk and one giant bull. He towered over the rest of the heard, showing massive six by six antlers. He stood atop a ridge a mere 30 feet away. We locked eyes and a moment was shared. Neither moved for a few eternal seconds… I got low to the rock. Ten seconds passed, then he turned, lowering his head to the ground and began grazing. I sighed with relief then took in the scene for awhile. After a time, I started taking photos of the herd. The rest of the herd relaxed and slowly meandered into the upper forest. I turned back to continue the trail loop around, and by the time I reached the boulder, they were gone. I continued on and just as the trees cleared to meadow, revealing Longs Peak, I ran into the bull elk again 15 feet away in the the high grass. Between moments of sleepy chewing, he often kept his eye on me. This is that glare.

Available for Sponsored Travel

Brandon Elijah Scott is available for sponsored travel opportunities, and is happy to team up with tourism boards to evolve branding, marketing and photography where needed. He is adept at touring lesser known areas and showcasing the local image by developing a strong image and focus on natural attractions to boost the rate of tourism in the area. Brandon has worked with tourism boards from Italy to Ireland, as well as hundreds of attractions and accommodations in over 25 countries and 40 states. Brandon provides professional photography, branding and design services, tourism whispering, and destination image marketing strategy. If you represent a region that desires a boost in tourism momentum, or are a lesser known destination, Brandon can help you with high end photography, marketing strategy, editorial content, and consulting. If you have a struggling accommodation or restaurant, Brandon can guide you toward making successful changes to maximize your potential.

Upcoming Travel Plans

Travel has always been a huge part of my life ever since I was young. My mom and I would camp throughout the midwest, and we'd regularly visit and live in South Carolina and Florida, and before I became of age, I had visited upwards of 15 states. Chasing adventure and having new experiences has been a major driver in my life, inspiring me to travel often. Since age 18, I have explored 26 countries and 47 states. The combination of having a son and the pandemic have lead to a slowdown in my travel since 2019. But I'm striving to get back out there as much as life will allow. In 2021, I visited Virginia, and in 2022, I toured Washington and Oregon. In 2023, I was blessed with the opportunity to road trip from San Francisco to Portland, then explore Alaska from Anchorage to Kenai, then Denali to Valdez, before finishing the year with a quick trip to the Colorado rockies. In 2024, Brandon is traveling to Canada to explore Alberta and British Columbia, moving from Banff and surrounding areas like Kootenay, Yoho, Revelstoke, Glacier, before visiting Jasper, Mt Robson, and finally Vancouver. But then he's hopping on a plane and having a southern Alaska adventure in Juneau and Glacier Bay. Then in the fall, he will be working this way down Appalachia as he tours the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. In 2025, Brandon is hoping to make his way to New Zealand and Iceland. But do take note. Brandon is open to travel opportunities, so if you're from a tourism board or if you have a commercial project in mind, please feel free to reach out.

Ohio Wild Birds

A favorite pastime of mine is watching the wide variety of wild birds that visit my patch of forest in Ohio. Here's some up-close and personal images of my beloved feathered friends that I've taken over the past month.   Cardinals.   Downy Woodpecker.   American Goldfinch.   White-breasted nuthatch.   Cardinal.   Blue jay.   American goldfinch.   European starling.   Cardinal.   Cardinal.   American goldfinch.   Blue jay.   Cardinal.   Cardinal.   © Brandon Elijah Scott.