When I was getting started with nature photography, one of my inspirations and influences was Frans Lanting’s 1997 book “Eye to Eye”. It’s one of the first books that I checked out of my school library (in addition to books that taught me fundamentals such as exposure and depth of field).

Recently when photographing in the Galápagos I was struck by the astonishing accessibility of the wildlife. I realized it was an opportunity for me to get closer. Very close, in some cases. Here is the first image in my “eye to eye” mini-series, of a giant tortoise on Floreana.