Advertisement Sacramento photographer shares striking American River photos

A Fair Oaks photographer is on a mission to capture fleeting moments along the American River Parkway that can be easily overlooked with earbuds, conversations and focusing on the trail. Sam Davidson captures striking photos of wildlife. “I’m just trying to get people to stop, look around, listen and take in what’s around you,” Davidson said. “You could walk around and find things, but you’d be amazed what comes to you if you just sit and wait and watch and listen.”The 30-year-old always appreciated nature and photography, but his passion intensified during a milestone trip. “My mom took me to the Galapagos as a graduation present for high school, and I got some pretty amazing stuff there,” Davidson said. “It was a pretty life-changing experience.”He transformed the overseas trip into a hometown calling. “Birds are pretty much the only thing that I photograph, just because I’ve always had an affinity for them,” he said. “All the stuff I get, I rarely have to drive an hour outside of Fair Oaks and Sacramento to get.”Davidson has taken thousands of photos, but one this summer was a long time coming. “I got some shots of an osprey catching a shad that I’ve literally been waiting for, for years,” he said. “Because I’ve gotten pictures of osprey at the river -- and even osprey with fish at the river before. But I’ve never actually got one catching one. That was a real lifetime shot for me.”Davidson also is a volunteer naturalist at the Cosumnes River Preserve. “People ask me a lot, 'Where do you have to go to get this stuff?' or 'How long do you have to wait to get this stuff?' And my response is usually akin to, 'It’s everywhere,'” Davidson said. “I would describe it really as kind of a hidden gem. It’s really easy to find. It’s not that far away. It’s a pretty beautiful place, and we’re lucky to have it.”