From icicles to wildlife, Scottsdale photographer seems for the ‘amazing’

Jim Burns’ first makes an attempt at pictures have been footage of icicles hanging from the bushes within the Midwest the place he grew up.

“I’ve always been a very visual person,” the Scottsdale resident stated.

“I inherited my love of nature from my parents, and as a young adult spent a lot of time poring over coffee table books by Art Wolfe, David Muench and Ansel Adams.”

But he discovered wildlife extra fascinating than icicles, and one in every of his images seems within the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2026 calendar.

First there have been birds, and he needed to doc the species he was seeing.

“From there I evolved from portraiture to flight and action because I wanted to share a deeper dive into lifestyle and natural history, aspects of nature that casual birders often overlook or miss.”

He’s been doing so for 40 years on and off whereas elevating a household and pursuing a profession in a special discipline.

“My technique has changed over time, from running around trying to shoot as many things as I could to slowing down and spending much more time observing how animals survive and interact with their environment and other species,” he stated.

“I’m always looking now for things that surprise and amaze me, things I haven’t seen before or know casual nature lovers rarely get to observe.”

That connection to nature has led him to some conclusions.

“This planet is in trouble.  We all have to be proactive and do every little thing we can to turn the tide.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a three-part sequence specializing in East Valley photographers whose work seems within the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2026 calendar.

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More than 690 photographers entered this yr’s wildlife picture contest. Twelve profitable photographs are revealed in Arizona Wildlife Views’ full-size 2026 wildlife calendar, which will be bought for $3 in any respect AZGFD offices statewide.

Phoenix
Arizona Game and Fish Department
5000 W. Carefree Highway
602-942-3000

Mesa
7200 E. University Drive
480-981-9400

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