It was the “trip of a lifetime!” That is rare for me to write since I have been on many “trips of a lifetime” over our 43 years offering photography tours. But this trip was exceptional—even f... Read More By Joe Van Os on Aug 04, 2023
This was my very first time visiting Iceland and I was looking forward to learning the ropes from my local Iceland pro co-leader Daniel Bergmann. I had seen so many nice images of the scenic aspect of the Island country. B... Read More By Mark Thomas on Jul 28, 2023
Olympic National Park in one word—Diversity! I am not sure there is another park in the lower forty-eight states that encompasses such a variety of landscape photography possibilities. From snowcapped... Read More By Melissa Scott on Jul 28, 2023
Winter was reluctant to give up its hold and allow spring the right to take command of the tundra this year. When winter finally gave in, spring happened in just a manner of two days. Our group was fortunate to be there as... Read More By Eric Rock on Jul 26, 2023
Namibia is one of the most rugged countries in the world. Full of rocky outcroppings and sand, Namibia is a very dry country. It receives just over 10 inches of rain per year (on average, across the country). The Namib des... Read More By Mike Byrne on Jul 11, 2023
Our Patagonia trip began in Buenos Aires where we met up with our group of hearty photographers on our first day in Argentina. After restin... Read More By Jeff Vanuga on Jun 15, 2023
It’s common knowledge among nature photographers that Florida is one of the absolute best places for bird photography. From December through June, bird activity throughout the state is incredible. February and March ... Read More By Mark Thomas on Jun 15, 2023
I led two Brown Bears of Silver Salmon Creek Trips in 2022. The first one was July 5-11 and the second one was August 17-23. The two trips were only six weeks apart but, at this location early July trips are normally quite... Read More By Gary Alt on Jun 06, 2023
Having just returned from Costa Rica and now going through my thousands of images, I’m always surprised when I come across something I had completely forgotten we photographed. It’s like reaching into the pocke... Read More By Mark Thomas on May 17, 2023
Regal is this cat with stripes. A few years ago, Joe Van Os introduced me to the alluring and diverse sub-continent of India when he assigned me to the Ultimate Tigers photo safaris. With Bengal tigers being the focus of t... Read More By Eric Rock on May 02, 2023
Death Valley has a reputation for extremes. It is the lowest place, the driest place, and the hottest place in North America. Yet, it is but a “stone’s throw” from our highest mountain in ... Read More By Melissa Scott on Apr 13, 2023
Humpback whales have bad breath! I can definitively report that—after numerous “bubble-net” feeding groups of humpbacks surfaced close to our boat while we were down-wind of their moist fishy breath. And ... Read More By Joe Van Os on Apr 12, 2023
Bald eagles have made a remarkable recovery from the days in the mid-1900’s when they bordered on the threat of extinction throughout much of their range. Now, sightings of this familiar symbol of America are much mo... Read More By Joe Van Os on Apr 07, 2023
Most of the time it’s easy to understand how the Joseph Van Os photo tours get their tour names. And this trip being christened “Japan’s Winter Wildlife” is no different. What the title can’t ... Read More By Eric Rock on Mar 27, 2023
Much of the vast Canadian prairies have been “tamed” by agriculture. And starting in the 1950’s, the province of Alberta underwent a massive oil boom from which the petroleum industry further help... Read More By Joe Van Os on Mar 27, 2023
This year’s Mexican whale photo safaris provided many amazing photographs as well as an important life lesson. It’s a common belief that emotions such as happiness and grief, curiosity and boredom, and fear and... Read More By Wayne Lynch on Mar 14, 2023
On the western fringes of the Yellowstone Plateau lies one of five gateway communities to Yellowstone National Park—West Yellowstone, Montana. In winter, snow averages range from 3.5–5 feet. That combined with ... Read More By Jeff Vanuga on Mar 14, 2023
We began the tour with dinner at our first hotel, the Golden Star in Thessaloniki. This proved to be the ideal starting point, a sea front aspect close to the airport and a short distance from the cultural heart of Thessal... Read More By James Rogerson on Feb 14, 2023
Editor’s note: Mark Thomas clearly loves the Pantanal, its jaguars and wealth of other wildlife. I think he would live there if he could! This is a long trip report that we are breaking into two parts. It tru... Read More By Mark Thomas on Feb 03, 2023
Being the third largest cat on the planet and by far the largest cat in the Americas, jaguars are always the main attraction on our Cuiaba River boat trips. And they do not disappoint! In 2022 there were more cubs than eve... Read More By Mark Thomas on Feb 03, 2023
In the big dry desert country of western North America, there is no better place for landscape photographers to explore the unshielded boney crust of the earth and no place in the US that offers a better combination of ali... Read More By Eric Rock on Jan 16, 2023
It has been three years since my last Madagascar tour. COVID struck this island nation harshly, with three separate 6-month lockdowns. In addition, five cyclones hit Madagascar earlier this year. Life on the island hasn&rs... Read More By Mike Byrne on Jan 13, 2023
Just slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia, Costa Rica falls into the category of being a small country. So, why is there such a huge variety of wildlife here? What quickly becomes apparent once on the ground, i... Read More By Mark Thomas on Jan 12, 2023
Contrary to popular belief, the leaves of deciduous trees like aspens do not actively switch color in the autumn, but rather reveal underlying pigments that already exist. During the spring and summer, trees produce an abu... Read More By Todd W. Pierce on Dec 22, 2022
There is something about arriving to the Yosemite Valley that conjures up emotions and feelings of grandeur. We made our group arrival through the south entrance while driving along the scenic Wawona road. Just as we began... Read More By Eric Rock on Dec 15, 2022