Kevin Schaffer
Photographer. Lover of our National Parks system. Public lands advocate. Owner, Kevin Schaffer Photography Gallery in Madrid, NM.
- I love the reflections and how the little pieces of ice floating in water sparkle in the morning light... Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO3200, 1/160 second
- The Setup & The Shot ~ Photographing sandhill cranes at Bosque del Apache's Wetland Roost on a cold winter morning last month. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 370mm(Dx crop on), f6.3, ISO3200, 1/500 second
- Last week I shared a post about an evening at Bosque del Apache's Wetland Roost, this one is about the following morning at the same spot. kevinschaffer.wordpress.com/2026/02/04/m...
- "And we have liftoff" ~ Not gonna lie, I love how my Nikon Z9 - at 20 frames a second - captures every detail when photographing birds taking off and landing. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm, f6.3, ISO3200, 1/3200 second
- Soaking up the morning sun... A sandhill crane at Bosque del Apache's Wetland Roost watches the sun rise on a cold winter morning. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO3200, 1/2500 second
- Beep Beep! This roadrunner actually stood still for a brief moment, giving me a chance to take a few quick snaps before it ran off into the nearby brush. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm, f6.3, ISO100, 1/150 second
- Coming in for a landing on a pond sparkling with ice diamonds... Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO3200, 1/500 second
- Spotted while wandering around Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. I like to take my time and drive really slow there, you never know what you'll see. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO100, 1/640 second
- While waiting for the sandhill cranes to fly out last Wednesday morning at Bosque del Apache I killed some time playing around with making some abstract images. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 370mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO3200, 1/1250 second
- One of my favorite images from last week's visit to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm, f6.3, ISO3200, 1/4000 second
- I went wandering for a couple of days last, so of course I threw a few photos and words together about the trip. Follow the link to check it out. Thanks! kevinschaffer.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/e...
- One of things I love about slowly driving around Bosque del Apache is you never know what you'll see. I had to stop and take a few pics of this fuzzy guy (or gal) since they were kind enough to stand still for a moment.
- "Photo Finish" ~ Taken last week on a beautiful winter evening at Bosque del Apache's Wetland Roost. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO1600, 1/500 second
- Not a great photo but I finally managed to get some glass on a Great Blue Heron while wandering around Bosque del Apache last week. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 560mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO100, 1/160 second
- While waiting for the sandhill cranes to fly in Tuesday evening I killed some time playing around with making some abstract images. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm lens at 600mm, f6.3, ISO100, 1/1600 second
- One of my favorite things to photograph are sandhill cranes landing (and taking off). This was taken this past Tuesday evening at Bosque del Apache's Wetland Roost. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO3200, 1/800 second
- A group of sandhill cranes glide across the evening sky at Bosque del Apache... I'm always amazed at how close birds can fly together without bumping into each other. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO3200, 1/1000 second
- Here's another one from my quick trip to Bosque del Apache this week, two sandhill cranes coming in for the night at the Wetland Roost. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO1600, 1/640 second
- Quick trip to Bosque del Apache to chase the sandhill cranes. Took this last night at the Wetland Roost during sunset. Nikon Z9, Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 600mm (DX crop on), f6.3, ISO3200, 1/200 second, +1 exposure compensation
- Peaceful evening, floating down the Colorado River outside of Moab. Nikon Z9, Z 70-200mm S lens at 200mm (DX crop on), f2.8, ISO800, 1/2000 second
- Taken almost ten years ago, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge near Taos. Nikon D750, 24-70mm lens at 32mm, f2.8, ISO100, 1/800 second, +2 exposure compensation
- Simple click, but I couldn't pass up the chance to take a few snaps of this perfect reflection while exploring around Pagosa Springs, Colorado this past October. Nikon Z9, Z 70-200mm S lens at 200mm, f2.8, ISO100, 1/2500 second
- Looking forward to doing some of this next week... Nikon Z9, Z 70-200mm S lens at 200mm (DX crop on), f2.8, ISO100, 1/4000 second
- Twice since leaving Alaska in 2013 I've spotted a bear (not counting those in national parks) while out wandering and this is the closest I've gotten to getting a photo of one. Maybe had eyes on it for twenty seconds before it disappeared into the woods.
- The always fascinating blackbird murmuration, I love watching the ebb and flow of the flock in the sky. Nikon Z9, Z 70-200mm S lens at 200mm (DX crop on), f2.8, ISO100, 1/200 second
- Simple click of a door with a little character, taken while wandering the streets of Mesilla, New Mexico. Nikon Z9, Z 24-70mm S lens at 29mm, f2.8, ISO100, 1/500 second
- Moon rising over Mitchell Mesa in Monument Valley on a cold, clear winter evening. Nikon Z9, Z 24-70mm S lens at 45mm, f11, ISO100, 1/30 second
- Taken while wandering in Colorado this past October. Love that moody sky. Nikon Z9, Z 70-200mm S lens at 105mm, f2.8, ISO100, 1/2500 second
- The endless expanse of White Sands National Park is calling my name... Nikon D750, 24-70mm lens at 62mm, f8, ISO100, 1/160 second, +1 exposure compensation
- I love the abstract nature of slot canyons, patterns in sandstone carved over time. This was taken while exploring in Canyon X on Navajo Nation in Arizona. Nikon D750, 14-24mm lens at 24mm, f11, ISO100, 2.5 seconds, -2 exposure compensation
- Winter storm clearing, just outside of Canyonlands National Park in Utah on a beautiful January afternoon. Nikon D750, 24-70mm lens at 35mm, f2.8, ISO100, 1/4000 second
- Simple click of a favorite subject, autumn aspens. Taken while wandering in southern Colorado this past October. Nikon Z9, Z 70-200mm S lens at 200mm (DX crop on), f11, ISO100, 1/80 second
- Happy (belated) Birthday to New Mexico, which became the 47th State in the U.S. back in January 6, 1912. Nikon D750, 24-70mm lens at 70mm, f11, ISO100, 1/40 second
- How today has felt so far, an uphill battle... 😂
- The blog post that's not about photography. Except it kinda is... kevinschaffer.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
- Taken during a visit to the Manzanar National Historic Site in California. I highly recommend stopping there if you're in the area, it certainly made an impression on me. Nikion D750, 24-70mm lens at 70mm, f2.8, ISO100, 1/4000 second
- "In pursuit"... I could spend all day watching sandhill cranes glide across the sky. Nikon Z9, Z 70-200mm S lens at 200mm (DX crop on), f2.8, ISO100, 1/3200 second
