Nature photography has taught me to measure a day by heartbeats instead of a clock. No second hand will tell me when and what I have seen. I can glance at water rushing down a stream, feel the wind rustling through trees, hear the roaring of thousands of honking geese flying overhead, or watch the splashing waves on a sandy shore, not realizing time is passing by. Nature is a place to wonder and wander. It is a place in which to get lost, as well as to find oneself. The essence of the moment is timeless in a never-ending theater. Pure joy is to catch nature as it happens. A journey is to capture the experience that cannot be repeated, but can be shared.

"Much is published, but little is printed. The rays, which stream through the shutter, will be no longer remembered when the shutter is wholly removed."  -Henry David Thoreau

A good visual image must grab me. It may be instant, totally unexpected or I may have to wait for a million heartbeats until I see and feel what nature has in store for me on any day. Nature photography is a form of meditation; it is reacting to what is before my eyes. Most of the time I cannot touch the wildlife; a roseate spoonbill flying into camera view, a black bear playing with her cubs on a carpet of flowers, a herd of bison storming out of the woods to escape the charge of a grizzly bear, or two whales breaching just twenty-five yards in front of me. Although I cannot touch these creatures with my hands, they touch me. Nature photography taught me to see with my eyes and feel with my heart. When I see it and feel it, then, and only then, can I capture the essence of the moment.

I arrived at this nature photographic interpretation over time. Like so many, I enjoy being outdoors. I enjoy the pleasure of natural places, forests and mountains, the sound of birds, the joy of a walk along the beach or a trail through the woods. Enjoying nature was not enough, I wanted more. I learned not only to see it but also experience the natural world with all my senses. 


I began to paint my sensory experiences on film, transferring the engraving on my mind to the emulsion of photographic film. It became a challenge to capture the seeing and the feeling of a moment in time. I enjoy capturing nature's banquet on film and I want to share my experiences with others, many who have not or cannot roam the great outdoors. I want my images to evoke a mood, create a smile, convey a feeling or stir one to reflect. My challenge is to communicate the essence and emotions of nature. I want my heartbeats to be felt and enjoyed by others.

Michael Thomas Impellizzeri is a lecturer, author and photographer. His passion for adventure and the natural world led him to a second career as a nature photographer. He is the author of three books, Nature’s Palette, Nature’s Artistry and award-winning Impressions of the Natural World. He is the recipient of numerous awards and has exhibited his images and nature-made sculptures on the East Coast. Impellizzeri, a Michigan State University graduate and veteran marathon runner, is a proud member of the North American Nature Photography Association.