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!
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!
Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom nestled between China and India, has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. The country was unified in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a Tibetan Buddhist lama who established Bhutan’s unique identity and governance. In 1907, the country transitioned into a hereditary monarchy under King Ugyen Wangchuck. Bhutan’s government evolved further in 2008 when it adopted a democratic constitutional monarchy, ensuring that the king serves as both a unifying figure and a guardian of Bhutanese culture.
Despite modernization, the Bhutanese people continue to embrace their traditions, fostering a strong sense of national unity. It’s this enduring culture and spirituality that we will aim to capture on this epic photo journey!
Buddhism is at the heart of Bhutanese life, influencing daily routines for all of its citizens. The dominant Drukpa Kagyu school of Buddhism shapes Bhutan’s national philosophy, emphasizing compassion, mindfulness, and harmony with nature. The government famously prioritizes Gross National Happiness (GNH) over economic growth, promoting well-being, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and good governance.
Bhutanese people uphold values such as respect for all living beings, communal harmony, and spiritual practice. Monasteries, prayer flags, and chortens (stupas) are visible throughout the country, reflecting a deeply spiritual way of life. Annual religious festivals, or Tshechus, bring communities together in celebration, featuring sacred mask dances, prayers, and rituals that reinforce Bhutan’s rich spiritual heritage. From previous experience, it’s a lot to take in – which is more than you could ask for as a photographer.
From said photographic perspective, Bhutan offers breathtaking landscapes and stunning architecture that capture the essence of this mystical kingdom. Towering snow-capped peaks, lush green valleys, and winding rivers provide a dramatic natural backdrop. Fortress-monasteries with intricate woodwork and whitewashed walls dot the landscape, offering a blend of history and spirituality. This combination of natural grandeur and cultural unity provide the perfect backdrop for photographing the various festivals and celebrations on our journey here.
We are on the verge of several workshops taking place on or around the West Coast! If you haven’t been shooting much over the winter this is the perfect opportunity to get out your gear and join me for a relaxing and productive opportunity.
Along with the gorgeous landscapes that the Pacific Coast has to offer from Washington down to California, we will also spend time finding unique abstract photographs. Aimed at expanding your visual vocabulary, such shots will also push your personal portfolio in a one-of-a-kind artistic direction.
When fall arrives and the leaves begin to turn to warm autumnal hues and temperatures are mild, the west coast becomes a beautiful tapestry of colors. The trees that do turn compliment the evergreens that do not, greatly increasing the number of interesting natural compositions.
I look forward to the fantastic company, sharing meals together, and exploring the west coast on a workshop with you!
OREGON COAST
Small-group Photography Retreat
March 15 – 18
Two new opportunities are available now with early bird pricing to join me in Oregon in March!
First up is the perennial favorite Abstract Astoria. As the oldest city on the west coast, Astoria is a venerable Scandinavian-inspired burg with an abundance of character and old-school charm. Culinary delights are around every corner, and on those corners you’re bound to find museums, breweries, and even old forts— abandoned, but ripe with photographic opportunity. Not only are the traditional river vistas great opportunities for your standard fare travel photos, but the aging concrete bunkers and rusted logging equipment make for an amazing trifecta of creativity, photography, and hospitality.
The second retreat moves west to Cannon Beach, with its thundering surf and famous sea stacks. Beautiful waterfalls and oceanscapes await your artistic eye, as well as opportunities for unique and intimate landscapes and abstracts. Art will challenge you to explore the nature of creativity and discover ways to bring its power to your images.
Both photo retreats are open to all experience levels and limited to just 6 participants.
2025 is shaping up to be another great year of travel! With planned trips to places like Egypt, Vietnam, Bhutan and much more, there’s bound to be something for everyone. Check out my events page for more information.
There are a number of workshops and photo tours that you can save a few hundred bucks on by purchasing in the early bird window – a window that closes this Monday, September 30th at midnight – sign up today, save some cash and join me on an adventure!
I’ll be leading a tour in Brazil’s Pantanal this November, and spaces remain to join us on this epic tour of wildlife and culture! We’ve got great people on the ground ready to help us achieve some unique one-in-a-lifetime opportunities – this will be a Pantanal trip like no other!
Here are a few highlights and reasons to join me in the wilds of South America this fall –
Escape late fall and winter to the comfort of the southern hemisphere – November is when this region begins to warm up.
Escape the election nonsense – I’m sure by the time mid November rolls around, we will all want to unplug a bit!
Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most diverse wildlife regions: 463 species of birds and 236 species of mammals, not to mention reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Stay in a floating lodge with spacious rooms to view ocelots, tapirs, giant otters, and jaguars, sightings of which are guaranteed by our expert guides.
Photograph from Jaguar boats that are specially designed for photographers with rotating seats and camera mounts.
Photograph and take an optional horseback ride with the iconic pantaneiros—the cowboys of the Pantanal—as they go about their daily activities.
Photograph flocks of macaws flying at eye level and below you as you stand at the edge of a 450 foot deep limestone sinkhole.
Snorkel with piraputangas, colorful South American trout, in crystal clear springs.
Closely observe giant anteaters, some of the strangest and most beautiful animals on the planet.
Art Wolfe has photographed in Brazil’s Pantanal numerous times and worked with the same local guides for his PBS series Travels to the Edge.
Just a couple of spots remain in my late July and early August Katmai bear tours in Alaska – now is the time to sign up if you’ve been thinking about attending this workshop! For some time now, we’ve been leading two trips here a year. Next year there will likely only be one on the calendar due to scheduling trips for upcoming book projects. I anticipate that sole trip will sell out quickly, so if you want to ensure a spot on this epic trip, why wait?
One of the biggest selling points of our workshop is the amazing support we have on the ground. The team we work with lives and breathes the Alaskan wilderness, and are as familiar as anyone on the planet with the locations and habits of the bears we aim to photograph. With a lodge, our own pilot and meals included, your only job is to pack your gear and make it to Anchorage – we will take care of the rest!
Lets talk about the real reason you go on a trip like this – the adventure into the Alaskan wilderness to photograph the great Alaskan brown bears! While they fish, play, and wrestle they show us all why it’s so important to protect these natural spaces. This is, after all, their home – as familiar and important to them as our own back yards are to us. With great respect, we are in their territory. The unique life-long connection you’ll find you now have to these bears is enriching far beyond our time here. It’s definitely left an impression on me!
Check out photos from last year’s trip, then reserve your spot to come along in July and August!
The Carmel coast in California is a captivating blend of rugged natural beauty and abundant wildlife, making it a haven for photographers. This coastal landscape offers the rocky cliffs and pristine beaches you’d expect, with seals, sea lions, otters and shore birds animating the landscape. When I’m here, I’m keeping an eye out for the abstract opportunities reflected upon the water, and familiar forms on oxidized rocks and minerals.
Variety is an important factor when I’m picking out workshop locations. Many of my personal trips in specific for book projects have me making a long trip just hoping to capture a few iconic shots of a certain species, event, or culture. When I have the opportunity to lead a workshop, variety is a huge factor in determining how frequently we might revisit a location. The Carmel coast has variety in spades as described above, but also the many forests, redwoods, and other inland sights within striking distance.
Needless to say, this is also a top-tier location for enjoying wine and food with good company as well. Looking forward to the next visit!
