ESCONDIDO — Nearly a decade ago, a routine walk around Lake Hodges transformed the life of an Escondido-based nature photographer.
In addition to serene water and the chorus of birdsong, Escondido resident Krisztina Scheeff stumbled upon an incredible sight: a bird with bright red eyes, stark black-and-white plumage and a sharp beak seemingly walking across the water.
The bird was a grebe performing its signature water-walking courtship ritual — its feet moving so quickly that it appeared to skip across the surface.
“I was fascinated by them,” Scheeff said.
From that day forward, Scheeff frequently returned to Lake Hodges, photographing and studying the grebes that inhabit the area. What began as a personal interest evolved into a professional passion, leading her to leave her job as a software engineer and launch her business, KS Nature Photography.
Today, Scheeff is a recognized figure in the world of wildlife photography. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Birders Digest, American Wild Magazine, San Diego Bird Alliance (formerly the San Diego Audubon Society) and many others. She was also named a finalist in the National Audubon Society’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
Earlier this year, Scheeff served as a grebe expert for the BBC Natural History Unit’s ambitious three-year project, “The Secret Lives of Animals,” documenting 77 species across 24 countries. Narrated by Hugh Bonneville, the 10-part documentary is set to premiere globally on Dec. 18 on Apple TV+.
While Scheeff has led photography tours around the world, including trips to Scotland, Costa Rica and the Galapagos islands, Lake Hodges remains a constant source of inspiration. She always returns to check on the grebes, prompting many of her clients to refer to her as the “Grebe Whisperer.”
“Lake Hodges is one of my favorite places,” said Scheeff, who photographs most everything around the lake during her routine walks.
San Diego County, a biodiversity hotspot, is home to more than 500 bird species, with 247 making appearances at Lake Hodges, according to Friends of Lake Hodges. Both western and Clark’s grebes are a year-round presence at the lake, mating during the winter months.
The waterbird’s remarkable ability to “walk” on water is a mating display, a synchronized dance performed by potential mates.
“It’s like that bar scene in a movie where they go on the dance floor to meet somebody,” Scheeff said.
Grebes achieve this feat by moving their feet at incredible speeds — 15 to 20 steps per second, far outpacing the fastest human’s five to six steps per second.
Scheeff now shares her love of photography and nature with others, leading tours and workshops locally and internationally. Her workshops emphasize not only technical skills and patience but also the importance of ethical wildlife photography.
“Some people might say, ‘Oh, I want a flying shot, so I’ll chase this bird,’” Scheeff said, explaining what not to do when taking photos of birds and other animals. “You have to be careful – it’s always about the animal’s welfare.”
Scheeff is also involved with Girls Who Click, an organization encouraging more women to pursue nature photography, a field still dominated by men.
Her deep respect for the natural world stems from her summers in Hungary as a teenager when she hiked and learned about wildlife. After earning a degree in animal science and agricultural engineering from the University of Godollo, she continued her studies at Purdue University.
For Scheeff, her photography is more than art — it’s a way to connect with and honor the natural world.
To learn more about Scheeff’s photography tours and workshops, visit her website at ksnaturephotography.com.
