Though many of my upcoming U.S. workshops are sold out, there are still spaces available on plenty of other fantastic photography retreats and workshops to join me on! Kicking off in August, I’ll be hosting a Creative Sessions workshop in the Seattle area that starts with an evening of wine, bites and a presentation at my home in West Seattle and ends with an informative critique covering the subjects from our lectures and field sessions. Jump on that one now and save a bit, as it’s on sale through Memorial Day Weekend!
After that, only one space remains for our annual adventure to Katmai, Alaska to photograph bears, and two spots remain for our California Coast retreat where we will capture the landscape at large as well as abstracts and the wildlife that inhabits the sea shore.
When autumn rolls around and the leaves begin to change, It’s a fantastic time to photograph on the West Coast. Workshops in Colorado, the Olympic Peninsula, and Sedona round out what should be an incredible year. Finally, if you’re already looking for something in 2026 I’ll be returning to Astoria to teach and capture abstract images in the oldest U.S. city on the pacific coast.
I hope to see you in one or multiple workshops this year and next!
Someone recently asked me to name five intrinsically funny animals off the top of my head, and I thought it would make for a fun Friday blog post to keep things light heading into the weekend. Leave a comment below if you have a favorite from the list, or have your own suggestion – I’d love to hear it and dive into my files to see if I have any photos of your suggestions for a future post!
These tiny primates are adorable but also kind of silly looking with their big eyes and spindly fingers. They grow to be only a maximum of about 6 inches in length, and top out at about 5 ounces in weight.
It’s usually funny to see a giant version of something you identify with as being relatively small, and the world’s largest rodent is no exception. Look at mom’s snoot! These Rodents grow to be well over 4 feet long and can weigh from 75 to 140 pounds or more.
Guanacos are a member of the camel family, located in the South American wilds. Their loping strides, long necks and camel faces somehow manage to be both graceful and hilarious – like something straight out of a Dr. Suess book. Fun fact – due to living in altitudes up to 2.5 miles above sea level, guanaco’s red blood cell count is up to 4 times more than those of humans.
A goofy bird with a goofy name – what a combo! Not to mention the fact that they also happen to be beautifully colored birds that are a joy to photograph. Their blue feet are a product of their diet, and males display them proudly in an effort to attract a mate.
The reason these guys are so funny is written all over their faces. Human-like expressions with exaggerated features combined with their interest in the camera lens makes them an obvious choice for the top spot! They are most often found in groups of 25 or more, so if you find one, you’re bound to have a whole grinning family to photograph.
Don’t forget to leave a comment below if you have a favorite animal that puts a smile on your face!
This year I was honored to be awarded The Mountaineers Adventure with Purpose award. The Mountaineers is a long-standing organization who’s purpose is to connect people to the natural world as well as to one and other, and to enjoy nature while also striving to protect it.
On April 26th, I was presented with the award at The Mountaineers annual gala, and epic evening of friends, food, and an incredible fundraising auction. More than $585,000 was raised for initiatives across branches and activities, including nonprofit publishing, adult programming, youth outreach, scholarships, volunteer leadership development, conservation advocacy, and more.
I was also pleased to meet fellow VIP guest Sasha DiGiulian. Sasha is a United Nations Mountain Partnerships Ambassador, prolific climber and powerful advocate for defending our natural world.
It was a fantastic evening at Fremont Studios here in Seattle. Their technology made for an incredible presentation, and the Mountaineers organizers did an amazing job providing such a unique and enchanting evening for everyone involved. I met several fans and was happy to share an evening with them and sign books. It was revitalizing after a busy 2025 travel schedule.
You can view a video of the Gala here. For more information about The Mountaineers, the Gala, and more photos from the evening, click the links below!
Bhutan was likely the final chance for me to photograph for my upcoming book on international spirituality and religion, Acts of Faith. I photographed the Tshechu Buddhist Festival and the Dance of the Black Hats many years ago, and it was incredible to go back there with the latest technology and my widest of wide angle lenses to ensure I could capture the colorful dancers front and center while also getting down low to capture the ancient architecture of the Rinpung Dzong monastery.
The Dance of the Black Hats is one of many dances that take place during this annual festival. In many cases, dancers wear terrifying masks to ward off evil spirits. The people here are incredibly friendly, as they are part of a national culture that embraces mindfulness and harmony within their community.
Enjoy the photos – and join me on my next adventure. There are still a couple spaces left to join us in Vietnam at the end of May!
Happy 55th Earth Day, 2025. It’s also National Parks week, and while there has definitely been a lot going on politically as it pertains to the parks, they are still here for you to visit – all 400-plus of them! Find the parks nearest you, and if you have kids check out National Junior Ranger Day. If you’re looking to contribute at a time when it’s definitely needed, there are opportunities to do so as well.
If you’re looking for additional ways to celebrate Earth day, our national parks, and contribute to the well-being of our critical natural environment here are a few ideas:
1. Walk to a park and hang out with your tree friends. It can be easy to forget just how soothing and therapeutic a simple walk among nature can be. In an era of social media, incessant electronic notifications, and exhausting news cycles a trip to a park and remembering what truly matters can greatly improve mental health.
2. Plant native perennials and trees for pollinators! Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and more are an important part of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Consider them when planting this spring and plan accordingly to ensure healthy populations.
3. Conserve water. This one is pretty straight forward, but even beyond watching your usage, ensuring you’re properly watering your yards and gardens can also maximize the health of your plants, yielding more vegetables and more opportunities to entice those pollinators. Look up how to specifically water many of your plants, as improper watering techniques can do as much harm as good. Consider a water barrel if you live in an area with regular rainfall.
4. Hand-in-hand with those vegetable yields – eat more veggies! Not only do vegetables cost less carbon footprint than raising herds of animals, you’re also helping that water issue by ensuring less vegetables go to waste.
5. Reduce, reuse, recycle. If you are an avid garner, purchase things like topsoil and mulch in bulk versus several smaller bags that create more plastic waste. Many pots and trays are biodegradable these days and can be planted directly into the dirt.
6. Pick up trash when you see it.
“To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people’s trash.”– Bill Nye
7. Support our national parks “America’s Best Idea” by joining the National Parks Conservation Association https://www.npca.org/
10. Join an Art Wolfe workshop! Not only do may of my workshops get you out into the very nature we are striving to protect, it also helps bring valuable commerce into our parks and the surrounding areas, while also supporting the businesses that sustain healthy tourism in these areas.
Some cool news from our neighbors to the north in Canada – Photographer Sandra Nelson has won the Royal Ontario Museum’s Wildlife photo contest with an image she took with us on a tour in Katmai, Alaska! Her photograph, titled The One That Got Away is a beautifully sharp image freezing the moment as two grizzly bears engage in a spat over a tasty salmon. On top of winning the contest, her image is currently on display at ROM.
A HUGE congratulations to Sandra from Art Wolfe and our staff here. These kinds of stories make all the work that goes into arranging trips that much more worth-while. Sandra has other great shots from this trip, so we will include a couple more. We are returning to Katmai this August, yet only one space remains – come make your own memories in this incredible location!
Today is National Pet Day! Traveling as often as I do makes it impossible to be a traditional pet owner, but over the years I’ve had my share of company!
Living along side a preserved greenbelt we get lots of visitors in the Wolfe garden, including these troublemakers. They are cute, they are playful, and they love to uproot the various vegetation in my garden. I’ve taken to using humane water jet devices to keep them from pawing around my ponds.
The delicate trees in my yard make excellent nesting grounds for smaller birds, like this Anna’s Hummingbird. It’s always an uplifting moment to discover their intricately assembled nests housing tiny eggs when I’m working in the garden.
Lastly, the koi. Sad to say that I’ve had koi numerous times over the years. However, much like those traditional pets they end up being a lot of work – and also very hard to protect in the pacific northwest, where fish are a favorite snack of many a predator. I had fish in my pond up until this past Christmas eve. As I was away on a trip, my security cameras caught a large river otter having himself a holiday feast, and then had the audacity to take a post-meal nap. Frustrating, but that is the circle of life!
So – happy National Pet Day to everyone who has furry, scaled or feathered friends, even if i like me your “pets” are free to roam!
There’s a lot to see here in the Pacific Northwest, and there are still spaces available to join me at Mount Rainier and on the Olympic peninsula – or if you’re open to other locations in the western US join me in Colorado or on the California Coast!
Greenland has been in the news lately, but we will leave current events there and instead look back at this gorgeous territory of Denmark from previous trips here. Offering some of the most dramatic and untouched natural beauty on Earth, the scenery is both wild and serene. The soft, diffused light of the Arctic sun casts a magical glow over the landscape. Those in the ‘flat earth’ camp might be discouraged to hear that there are weeks when the sun never sets!
Wildlife in Greenland is equally captivating, with an array of species adapted to its Arctic environment. The icy waters are home to whales, seals, and walruses, while the skies are often dotted with migratory birds like puffins, guillemots, and arctic terns. Capturing these creatures in their natural habitat can be both challenging and rewarding. Using a long lens and maintaining a respectful distance is key to getting those perfect wildlife shots while preserving the integrity of the creatures’ natural environment.
Although I’m primarily known for wildlife, the culture of the places we visit are just as important and the two are intrinsically linked. Greenland is a blend of indigenous Inuit heritage and Danish influences. The Inuit have lived in Greenland for thousands of years, and their traditions, language, and craftsmanship continue to play an essential role in the country’s identity. Visitors can explore colorful villages, where the vibrant homes contrast beautifully against the snowy surroundings, and witness the art of traditional kayak building.
Leave a comment below if Greenland is on your bucket list – perhaps we will plan a tour!
It’s become almost a given that I’ll be starting a new year off with a trip to Japan, and 2025 was no different. Beyond the photography, the setting and culture are perpetually welcoming and the experience we have here has always been welcoming and and accommodating.
Of course, the photography is why we are here! Over the years I’ve photographed in Hokkaido and the surrounding areas a plethora of times. The challenge then becomes finding new unique ways to capture the snow macaques, cranes, and other wildlife.
In this instance, I tried to capture my familiar primate friends when they were engaged with one and other in interesting spontaneous interactions, unique familial routines, or navigating a less-traveled path in the areas surrounding the hot springs they bathe in.
If I can come away with even a few fresh takes while introducing new photographers to these areas, I’m a happy man. Check out all of my upcoming tours and start making your own life-long memories!
Among the many topics I cover in my Pathways to Creativity web series, one that I’ve been most passionate about in recent years is the idea of discovering the abstract images in places that otherwise might go unnoticed. These images may not get the ‘likes’ on a travel blog or Instagram account that the the typical vistas might, yet they are infinitely more valuable in training your eye to recognize when the elements of design are coming together to create something metaphoric and unique. They also make interesting conversation pieces when taken entirely out of the context from which they were captured.
At the end of April I’ll be leading a workshop on the Olympic peninsula in the Lake Quinault area with the primary focus of finding Abstract inspirations in nature. If you’ve already signed up or are thinking about signing up for that trip, check out the free full Pathways episode on embracing the abstract and you’ll be ahead of the game when we get out into the field!
