By Dan McCarthy
Mail

Tim Cota, whose photograph appears in the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2026 calendar, has shifted his focus over the years from wildlife many are familiar with to creatures that are overlooked.

“I have been photographing wildlife since approximately 2005, which was primarily invertebrates, lizards and frogs,” he said. 

“When I began, I was always in search of the next creature that I had set my sights on, which led to often-repeated photo sessions with a different subject. I mostly focused on . . . ‘field guide’-type photos of my subjects.”

Cota shifted his approach slowly from what he calls “macro photography” to more habitat-oriented photos.

“My current photos often feature diverse habitats, often including the sky or current weather to illustrate the natural history of the animals.”

His interest in photography began when he was a child with his grandfather, a photographer with whom spent time in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County.

He was given a hand-me-down point-and-shoot when he was in high school and took it everywhere until he could afford to buy a digital single-lens reflex.

A new part of his photo journey had begun, and it has changed over the years.

“Oftentimes, I set out searching for obscure or poorly understood subjects. I love to capture photos of creatures that people may have otherwise not taken the time to gaze at,” he said.

“Bringing a photo home that may help someone gain a newfound respect or appreciation for our native wildlife is always the goal. When the photo brings in elements of weather, amazing skies or natural behaviors, it's a wonderful bonus.”

He adds: “The search for perfect lighting with an excellent subject is a constant.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a three-part series focusing on East Valley photographers whose work appears in the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2026 calendar.

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Dan McCarthy
Web content

dmccarthy@iniusa.org

Meet Dan
Dan McCarthy joined Independent Newsmedia as web content editor after a 40-plus year career as a reporter and editor in New Jersey and Arizona. During his time in Arizona, he has been an editor of daily and weekly papers in Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Peoria and Glendale. Prior to moving to Arizona in 1984, when he was hired to be assistant city editor at the Tempe Daily News, he covered regional police/fire news, municipal, county and state governments in New Jersey, the latter as bureau chief at the state Capitol.

Community: He has served on several boards over the years, including the Tempe Community Action Agency and the Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital Board of Governors. He is a graduate of the Tempe Leadership and Scottsdale Leadership programs, serving as media adviser for subsequent classes of Tempe Leadership.

Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. 

Random Fact: Set winter/summer track records in the 60-, 100- and 220-yard dashes at his high school in New Jersey. 

Hobbies: Tai chi, cooking, dining at his must-eat-once places around the U.S. and the Cincinnati Reds, his favorite team since 1961.