Photo of the Week: Seals of Approval in Rhode Island

Photo of the Week: Seals of Approval in Rhode Island

 

While there’s been some cold winter weather in Rhode Island lately, the seals don’t seem to mind. 

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Last week, wildlife photographer Mike Laptew was on Block Island, where he took some spectacular snaps of the animals. 

“I came over a sandy berm and they were on the other side…they saw me, and I dropped to the ground,” said Laptew, who said he was probably around “900 feet” from the group of seals, shooting with a Sony a1 II.

Laptew, who grew up in Pawtucket and lives in North Kingstown, says his photography work has taken him “from Siberia to Alaska.”

And for Laptew, it’s all part of a “bigger picture.” 

“I’m here on a multi-year project - this particular nonprofit organization is called Reblock Block Island,” said Laptew. “They’ve donated land from the McCluskey estate as a preservation example - tearing out invasive species and replanting what’s indigenous to the area with some modifications for climate change.”

“So I’ve been documenting the changes as they go in and pull out the briar. It’s work that’s made a significant difference,” said Laptew.