Anthony Stark

Award-Winning Nature Photographer

I suppose those who know me would describe me as an adventure seeker. I do travel often, but that in itself isn’t the adventure. Experiencing something new - that’s the real adventure.

The images I produce are the result of months or sometimes years of research, planning, traveling, patiently waiting in isolation, very early mornings, and very late nights. No complaints here; it’s my happy place. But it is a nod to all the nature photographers who have a passion to see the world at its finest and attempt to capture reflections of light to inspire others.

Through my work, I hope to support conservation and encourage others to explore nature, whether across the globe or in their own backyard.

I’m truly thankful you’ve stopped by,
Tony

Affiliations

Gear

Vanlife

FAQs

Underwater Photography

Social Media

Affiliations

 Gear

I tend to shoot in pretty extreme conditions. These may include the heat of arid deserts like Wadi Rum in Jordan or Uluru in Australia, the extreme cold weather of Antarctica, the dust in Kenya, or the intense humidity of Costa Rica.

While all major camera brands offer options for these needs, I use Sony cameras.

  • Camera bodies are built for different purposes. Some are for high-resolution - to capture every detail. Others are built for speed - to capture every moment of action, like a bird in flight or a cheetah on the run. Flagship cameras often try to marry the best of both worlds.

    Sony A1 Mark II - fast action with high resolution

    Sony A1 - fast action with high resolution

    Sony A7RIV - higher resolution but not as fast

  • Lenses are the most critical aspect of a photographer's gear. Camera bodies come and go, but lenses last longer and have a greater effect on image quality.

    Lenses also dictate how far away from the subject you can be, how much of a scene is in focus, and how much light can be gathered - this allows photography in the late evening or high-speed shots for action.

    "Zoom" lenses typically provide more flexibility, though they suffer in image quality. "Prime" (or fixed) lenses offer better quality, though you are limited to one focal length.

    I use a mix of lenses depending on the subject, the amount of action expected, and the available light.

    Sony 600mm f4 - an ideal lens for bird photography and other wildlife uses

    Sony 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 - flexible telephoto lens and is my primary safari lens

    Tamron 28-200mm 2.8-5.6 - lightweight and covers a wide range of 'every day' shots

    Sony 20mm f1.8 - primary lens for astrophotography (Milky Way) and landscapes

    Sigma 16mm f1.4 - very wide angle lens, useful for astrophotography (Milky Way), and vast landscapes

    Sony 16-35mm f2.8 - this is my primary lens for underwater photography

    Sony 90mm macro f.2.8 - this is my primary lens for macro photography (getting close to small subjects), including underwater

    Sony Teleconverters (1.4x & 2x) - extends the focal length of any Sony brand lens

  • Whether I’m out photographing birds for a few hours, or on safari, there are things I bring along that can help get the shot. Here are some items that I commonly have with me.

    Gura Gear Kiboko 2.0 Backpack (30L)

    LensCoat Xpandable 4X Long Lens Bag

    Nikon 10x42 Monarch M5 Binoculars

    3 Legged Thing Nicky Carbon Fiber Tripod

    Benro GH2N Gimbal Head

    Wimberley MH-100 Monopod Gimbal Head

  • For underwater photography, you need a water / pressure proof 'case' (a housing) to put your camera in. These are often made for a specific brand and model of camera.

    I use a Nauticam housing to bring the Sony A7RIV underwater. This has wide-angle and macro ports, adjustable arms with two strong strobes ('flashes'), and a video light.

    Nauticam Housing for Sony A7RIV

    Kraken Sports Hydra 2500 Video Light

    Sea & Sea Ys-D3 Strobes (x2)

  • I enjoy photographing spiders, insects, abstract patterns and many things at a macro scale.

    One challenge of this type of photography is getting enough light, and getting ‘soft’ light. For this I use a combination of a flash and a diffuser.

    Godox V350S Flash

    Cygnustech Diffuser

The National Vanthem

I decided almost two decades ago to travel the world as much as I could internationally. I still plan to travel abroad, but there’s so much to be seen in the States.

For the work I do with Aptura Photography, it made sense to get a converted Sprinter van and travel the country. I’ve already had an epic 6-week trip photographing landscapes and wildlife across the Western/Southwestern US and another to Louisiana.

So much more to photograph!

 FAQs

  • While I have traveled with significant others and family, I typically travel solo.

    Trips are usually 3 - 5 weeks in very remote destinations, which doesn't fit everyone's lifestyle.

    I think anyone that gets the chance to travel alone should take it (even if just for a weekend trip). It's a great experience.

  • There is risk in everything you do; it's a matter of understanding it and trying to mitigate it as much as possible.

    While I do travel alone on most trips, I typically have a guide in what would be considered the more dangerous locations.

    Unless connectivity isn't possible, I'm in frequent contact with family, tour operators, and my guide or the accommodation staff.

    I've been told in the past, in no uncertain terms, that I should not go into a "red zone" or stay within the confines of a compound.

  • I'm interested in all sorts of photography: Wildlife, Landscape, Travel, Culture, Underwater, Astrophotography.

    Anything that gets me outside or in a remote area would be my favorite.

    Lately, I've been keen on photographing birds. I've been fortunate to photograph birds on every continent. However, recently, I've been focusing on local birds - parks, reserves, and conservation areas around me during this past spring migration.

  • Fine Art Prints

    Shop Fine Art Prints

    Galleries & Events

    Events

    Social Media

    Facebook | Instagram

  • I founded Aptura Photography to provide tailored photography instruction, coaching, travel planning, rentals, tours, and workshops.

 Underwater Photography

  • I am SCUBA Certified through PADI to 130 ft / 40 m.

    • Advanced Open Water

    • Deep Diver

    • Enriched Air (Nitrox)

    • Dry Suit

    • Digital Underwater Photography

  • No. You can get fantastic photographs while snorkeling, swimming, or even wading in the water. The light is easier to manage closer to the surface.

    Some excursions only allow snorkeling. In some cases, the bubbles from traditional SCUBA can scare off or bother the sea life. In other cases, certain species are more prevalent (or more accessible) in the upper water column. This was the case when photographing Whale Sharks in Madagascar.

    Lastly, surface-supplied air systems (or hookah diving) are available. These systems consist of air being pumped down to divers through hoses, typically from a boat. While taking an Open Water Certification course for this type of diving is still suggested, in many cases, it does not require a certification. This is commonly seen in Cage Shark Diving.

  • Dive Gear

    When diving often, it is a safety consideration to have some components of your gear that you own and bring with you (as opposed to renting - which is the norm for traveling divers). In this way, you know how to use each item, which is extremely important in an emergency, and you know it has been properly maintained.

    I bring the following gear with me (as luggage requirements allow - roughly in this order of priority):

    • Shearwater Teric Dive Computer - I always bring this on any dive trip

    • ScubaPro Mask, Fins, Snorkel

    • Various torches ('flashlights'), tank bangers, and other safety devices

    • ScubaPro Hydros Pro BCD (Buoyancy Control Device)

    • ScubaPro Regulator and backup analog gauges

    • Shearwater Wireless Transmitter for gas measurements

    • BARE wetsuit (as needed)

    Underwater Photography

    See FAQs -"What gear do you use?" above.

  • Deepest Dive

    My deepest dive was 107 ft (32 m) in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

    I don't enjoy deep dives as much as shallower dives (anywhere up to 40 - 60 ft, but preferably less). There is less light at depth, which creates different lighting conditions. Strobes can be used to bring light and color to a scene when needed.

    It depends on what species I'm trying to photograph and where they can be found.

    Additionally, you can spend less time at depth because:

    a) you breathe more gas at deeper depths due to the gas being compressed

    b) the pressure of the water means you build up more nitrogen in your body, which can cause decompression sickness (or the bends)

    Longest Dive

    The more useful 'record' for photography is my longest dive: 2 hrs 11 min.

    It was at a dive site called "Blue Heron Bridge" near West Palm Beach, FL.

    My max depth on this dive was 25 ft, so I could stay much longer. This is one of my favorite dive sites (definitely my favorite in the US).

Social Media
View fullsize This little Cape Bushbuck came right into camp at The Hide in Zimbabwe. Luckily, I had my camera at the ready, and we had an impromptu photo session. Remember to support small businesses this year when shopping for the holidays! You can check my bio
View fullsize It can be an epic journey to get some wildlife photographs! This was the ride to the airstrip in Botswana ... water was coming into the floorboards :) Hope to see you at the show this Friday if you're in the St. Louis area! ARTIST RECEPTION Friday,
View fullsize Had an amazing trip to Africa earlier this year! I usually spend 3+ months culling and editing photos for a trip like this. The plan was to start sharing photos through social media after editing, but I got an opportunity for the exhibition, so I&r
View fullsize I’ve been traveling the last two weeks, with two more to go! So far, I’ve been in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and now in Botswana. I truly love this continent. The people are wonderful, the landscapes are beautiful, the wildlife of co
View fullsize Purple Martin (Progne subis)—This is an image of a female or immature male Purple Martin taken at a local lake near my house. Adult males have a darker purple color on their full bodies. At the lake, there are some houses built specifically for
View fullsize Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) - One thing I noticed pretty early on in my wildlife travels is how quickly species that I haven’t seen before become ‘common’ to me. It can happen in a day (and sometimes hours if they’re in enough n
View fullsize Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) - When planning a trip, I typically start with one country, and after getting an idea of how long I may spend there, I try to add two or more around it if possible. In 2023, I had initially planned Costa Rica but
View fullsize Philmore (Felis catus) - This is my dapper Russian Blue buddy, Philmore. I thought it might be fun to post it the day after my most recent lion pic from a safari in Kenya :) Often, when I get a new piece of camera gear, if I’d like to test out
View fullsize Lion (Panthera leo) - It was my first full day on an African Safari, and we, of course, had to see if we could find some lions! By 6 o’clock in the morning, before breakfast, I had seen a hippo right across the small river from my tent (see one
View fullsize Panamanian white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator) - Costa Rica has four species of monkeys that can be seen in the wild. One of them, the Panamanian white-faced capuchin, is probably most popular as the companion to the “organ grinder” and
View fullsize Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) - I went out to photograph some birds a few weeks ago and found myself under some gorgeous clouds near sunset. It’s in these moments that I just hope for absolutely *any* type of bird to pass through the clouds.
View fullsize Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) jumping off a cliff to cross the river - During the annual migration to follow the African rains, 1.5 to 2 million wildebeest, zebras, and other species cross the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Ke
View fullsize Sails on the Horizon, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - I had planned to do a week of scuba diving in Guanacaste. I made all sorts of arrangements to bring my larger dive camera and hauled it through three countries. Unfortunately, I got way too much sun the
View fullsize Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - The distribution of this bird is quite interesting. Common breeding grounds are in temperate Europe and Asia (where it’s known simply as the Tree Sparrow). However, in 1870, a shipment of birds from Ger
View fullsize Bedouin in Petra, Jordan - I’ve wanted to visit Petra in Jordan for so long. I had so many iconic shots in mind - the treasury building’s beautiful facade, the same building but at night, “The Siq” canyon-like path with its gr
View fullsize Brown-throated Sloth (Bradypus variegatus) - Photographing a sloth in the wild was definitely on my list for Costa Rica. One afternoon, we stopped at a roadside restaurant, and it was pouring down rain while we were eating. We could see the sun comin
View fullsize Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) - This Common Yellowthroat was hopping in and out of some nearby trees in the early morning, just after sunrise. I saw he was carrying something in his beak, so I was looking for a clear angle that showcased h
View fullsize Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) - A hyena, partially covered in mud, was feeding on a wildebeest taken down during the migration across the river. Dozens of scavenging birds were trying to take part in its meal. I watched the situation unfold for pro
View fullsize Southern Stingrays (Hypanus americanus) - This is a photo from a scuba dive off of Caño Island, Costa Rica. At the end of a dive (especially if you go deeper than 30 ft), divers will do a ‘safety stop’ - hovering for 3 to 5 minutes
View fullsize Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) - This was a fun bird to photograph. It was a little windy, but he stood his ground. I liked the branches around him creating a bit of a frame, and I had just enough time to take a couple of steps to the right to cat