Behind the Lens

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the final image is only part of the journey. Behind every shot is a story of planning, patience, a shift in the light, or a chance encounter that changed everything. I created this blog to take you behind the lens, to share the timing, the quiet, and the planning that goes into my favorite shots. Welcome to the stories behind the lens.

The Osprey Chronicles: 8 Weeks at the Nest
Jenna Stirling Jenna Stirling

The Osprey Chronicles: 8 Weeks at the Nest

From a wobbly, featherless hatchling to a fierce aerial predator, follow a behind-the-lens look at an 8-week wildlife photography project documenting the growth, technical challenges, and fascinating personalities inside a Florida osprey nest.

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Leaving "Someday" Behind: A First Timer’s Weekend in Yellowstone
Jenna Stirling Jenna Stirling

Leaving "Someday" Behind: A First Timer’s Weekend in Yellowstone

Visiting Yellowstone National Park was always at the very top of my photography bucket list. From the sheer adrenaline of holding a massive 600mm lens while a wild Red Fox posed just yards away, to navigating a high-contrast, post rain cliffside with Bighorn rams, step behind the lens to see what happens when you finally stop making excuses and leave "someday" behind.

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Summer on the Sarasota Shore: Photographing Florida’s Beach Nesters

Step onto the sand with me for a behind-the-scenes look at the chaotic, beautiful nesting colonies of Black Skimmers and Least Terns near Sarasota. Explore the delicate balance of these incredible birds sharing the shoreline with beachgoers and see some of my favorite photos of these birds as I visited four different beaches throughout June.

A Black Skimmer bird with fully extended wings flies low over calm blue water, dipping its bright orange and black lower mandible into the surface to hunt during nesting season in Sarasota.

Upcoming Blogs

August 2026

A side profile shot of a colorful male Harlequin Duck standing on a rock amidst the powerful, swirling white water and fast-moving teal currents of LeHardy Rapids in Yellowstone National Park.

Mid-August 2026 (Bonus Blog!)

Yellowstone's Hidden Waterbirds: The Stars of LeHardy Rapids

A behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of documenting the park’s most resilient whitewater species. Step past the big mammals to discover the grit and patience required to capture vibrant Harlequin ducks and tiny American dippers thriving in the roaring currents.

An American Alligator sunning on a bank with its head and back visible by green vegetation in the foreground and blue water in the background.

September 2026

Wild Neighbors: The Wild Side of The Villages

Celebrating the vibrant wildlife thriving peacefully right in our backyards. A photo essay dedicated to the stunning birds and animals that share our local spaces and golf course sanctuaries.