Ok, it's a corny headline. But photographer Ian Plant, in this issue of Nature Photographer online, is offering some of his favorite spots to photograph wildlife.

Plant is a professional photographer who lives in Washington, D.C., and has published several books about the country's natural wonders. He turned his lens on the Chesapeake Bay a couple of years ago and collaborated with Tom Horton on a book, Bay of Light.

The book offers many extraordinary pictures, some of which are posted in the link above. It's a large coffee-table book. I bought it last Christmas with the intention of giving it to my in-laws, but decided to keep it.

Not only do I like looking at it, but often photo books give me great story ideas. I owe much of my early days/months on this beat to the late Marion Warren, whose beautiful book Bringing Back the Bay was a trove of story ideas on iconic places, past and present, on both sides of the shore. He wrote the book with his daughter, Mame.