A large bull elephant crossing the parched landscape of Etosha National Park (Namibia) in midday heat. A simple composition with a big sky suggests a sense of space while the single bush anchors the image behind the elephant, giving perspective and scale.
Thank you for following,
Colin
Please message me if you are interested in joining the October 2023 Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours. For a list of all our upcoming tours, please visit our website: www.natexpotours.com
Day 1, Etosha in Black & White: "Zebra Fight"
One advantage of revisiting a destination is not feeling the pressure to capture all the new species that you might otherwise be observing for the first time. It allows you to see the subjects from a more relaxed perspective; to create new and unique images.
After the golden hour of early morning, the light in Etosha National Park (Namibia) becomes very hot, like the ambient temperature of 100˚F/38˚C. While it may not have the appeal of low angle sun, it conveys the harsh environment in which these animals thrive. I chose to utilize the high key light and bright contrast to convey a sense of place in this short series of black & white images. Please stay tuned for more...
Colin
Please message me if you are interested in joining us in Namibia next October. You can find more information about all our upcoming tours on our website: www.natexpotours.com
After the hunt...
This was the first pride of lions we saw on the Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours. It was late morning and judging from the blood-soaked mane of the male here, they had just finished eating. After drinking from the waterhole, they moved to the shade of a camel thorn tree, where they likely remained until nightfall, when they would hunt again.
Stay tuned for a short series over the coming days: "Etosha in Black & White"
Cheers!
Colin
PS - please contact me if you are interested in joining any of our 2023 tours, including Cuba, Norway, Iceland, and Namibia, or visit our website for more info: www.natexpotours.com
Lions in Etosha National Park, Namibia
Mighty Lioness, Etosha National Park, Namibia
Day 3 in Etosha. On our morning game drive from Namutoni Rest Camp, we watched a pride of lions cross in front of us, some stopping to pose for our cameras. It was some of the best lion viewing I've had, with this lovely girl showing off her strength and beauty in the early light.
Please email me if you are interested in joining us (Nat Expo Tours) in Namibia next October. The tour is already half full!
Stay tuned for more lion images and "Etosha in Black & White"
Colin
Be'ata Monastery, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
I'm changing up the theme today from wildlife & scenery to culture. I love exploring new destinations, meeting the people, becoming immersed in and photographing the local culture. Since my flight to Namibia took me through Ethiopia, on the way home I spent 4 days exploring the capital city, Addis Ababa.
Out for a stroll on my third morning, I met a local guide who took me to the Be'ata Monastery, one of the oldest Ethiopian Orthodox monasteries in Addis Ababa. Luckily, he was able to get us inside for a tour. The air was filled with incense, which added definition and contrast to the light shafts emanating through the stained glass. In the basement were tombs of royals - Emperor Menelik II (1844 - 1913) along with his wife and daughter. Menelik II is most revered for defeating the Italian army, thus preventing defending Ethiopia from being colonized. Among the artifacts were bibles so old they were written on goatskin, and what I believe I was told was an original da Vinci painting, though I have not been able to verify this or match it to any of his works. Since very few exist, it was likely a replica or da Vinci-inspired piece.
Hope you enjoy. I have more to share in the coming days, both wildlife and cultural images...
Colin
Scenes from Sesriem
Scenes from Sesriem...
On the first full day of the Namibia tour, we drive through Sesriem and hike to the dry ancient lakebed of Sossusvlei, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The early light is golden, the compositions are endless, wildlife is abundant, and we complete our hike before the heat is intolerable.
The October 2023 Namibia Tour with Nat Expo Tours is already half full, so please contact me if you are interested in joining and feel free to share.
Cheers!
Colin
I would love to have an aerial perspective the Namib Desert from a hot air ballon. Someday we will have to look into this...
Hiking Dune 45
Hiking the dunes of the Namib Desert in Sossusvlei
Tour guest Laurie Kosik taking in the many compositions in the dry ancient lakebed of Sossusvlei
Cheetah Portrait
Good (early) morning out there! I am back in Alaska and trying to adjust to the time change. With the end of daylight saving time, I am now a full 12 hours behind where I was just a few days ago in Ethiopia, and waking up much earlier than I need to.
I'm still editing through images from Namibia and will continue to post in the coming days. Here is another portrait from the cheetah rescue facility at Neuras Lodge, in affiliation with Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary. Next year's Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours, LLC is half full already. Please contact me if you are interested in joining.
Have a great Sunday and thank you for following along!
Colin
Cheetah Cub on a Termite Mound
The ubiquitous termite mounds of Africa. If you've been here, you've probably seen thousands of them. Fact - if you weighed all the termites on earth, they would outweigh all of the mammals...!
While not their intended purpose, they do serve as a lookout for cheetahs and other animals, as this cub is demonstrating here. Taken in Onguma private game reserve last week while leading our first Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours.
Colin
Cheetah Sightings
I was hoping to see & photograph a cheetah in Namibia this year. To my surprise, we were able to witness a mother with three cubs on two separate occasions in Onguma Private Game Reserve. On the first evening drive, we watched them come into a watering hole and drink until a pride of lions approached, which sent them running. The following evening, we came across the mother eating what was left of an impala she had likely hunted the day before. The cubs took their turns eating as well, and we watched the family interact for the next hour until the light was gone.
Stay tuned for more from our first Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours!
Colin
Giraffe in Etosha
Upon our arrival in Etosha National Park last week, we stopped by a watering hole that was packed with a variety of wildlife. Directly behind me were literally hundreds of zebras along with dozens of impalas, springboks, giraffes and more. I chose to focus on this single giraffe, away from the crowd, including the sky to give a sense of place with the clouds signaling the arrival of the rainy season. I switched to a wider lens and added a polarizing filter to bring out the blue sky and soft clouds while saturating the warm tones of the giraffe.
Our first Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours has concluded. I will be spending a few days in Addis Ababa, the capitol of Ethiopia, before returning to Alaska. There will be more images to share in the coming days, so please stay tuned…
Cheers,
Colin
Cheetah Poses
Our first Namibia tour is wrapping up soon and I have new images that I am very excited to share. This is from the first night of the tour at Neura's Lodge & Winery, where they have a cheetah rescue program in affiliation with Nannkuse Wildlife Sanctuary. They have 7 cheetahs in a large enclosure and we were able to watch the daily feeding.
Next year's Namibia tour is nearly full and it looks like the February 2023 Cuba tour is now full. Please let me know if you are interested in joining any of our future trips with Nat Expo Tours.
Thank you for following my journeys,
Colin
Saw-whet Owl Banding & Measuring
As promised, here are more photos of the saw-whet owl banding process. I've been able to join a few of these outings to observe and photograph, with both saw-whet and boreal owls. I am always grateful to be a part of the operation and expand my knowledge of these little forest dwelling raptors.
Colin
First time seeing the outside world...
Waiting to be weighed & measured
Juvenile saw-whet owl, close to fledging
Measuring the wings
Taking measurements while the owlet took the opportunity to void its bowels
It's always a good idea to bring a spare sheet for recording measurements
Juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owl
Last summer I had the opportunity to once again observe and assist in the banding of baby saw-whet owls. I've been able to take part in this process a few times now; it's always a joy and an honor to photograph these tiny owls and document the process of helping them to proliferate in Southcentral Alaska.
I'll have more images to share this week, so please stay tuned...
Cheers!
Colin
Isbjørn 🇳🇴 = Polar Bear
Still going through images from Svalbard, Norway. We saw at least 12 individual polar bears aside from the female we observed crossing the ice pack. The others were viewed from Zodiacs and on more than one occasion, a scheduled landing was canceled due to bears in the vicinity.
Have a great weekend and thank you for following along!
Colin
PS - in less than 2 weeks I'll be back in Namibia to lead a group with Nat Expo Tours, LLC, so please stay tuned…
Polar bear in Hingstsletta
Polar bear tracks near the mud, Ymerbukta
Polar bear mother and cub sleeping on the beach, Kapp Lee
Happy Autumn and the March 2023 Arctic Norway Aurora Adventure!
Happy Autumn, everyone!
With the equinox comes increased solar activity and subsequently, aurora borealis. Along with that, we are heading toward the next solar maximum, so opportunities for sights like this should continue to increase over the next few years...
I will be guiding local aurora borealis tours for Alaska Photo Treks again this season and speaking of aurora tours, Mike and I have added a new trip to our schedule at Nat Expo Tours – the March 2023 Arctic Norway Aurora Adventure! Dates are March 14-22, 2023. Details and itinerary on our website.
We are offering a $200 discount for all subscribers to our newsletter. You can subscribe on our homepage: www.natexpotours.com
Happy Aurora Hunting!
Colin
Auroral corona & moon at the Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Aurora borealis over the Chugach Mountains, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Humpback Whale Video, Iceland
When the whales are too close to fit in the frame, sometimes it's easier to put the telephoto down and just shoot with your phone. Taken in Iceland's longest fjord, Eyjafjordur, with Whale Watching Hauganes. Shot an iPhone 13 Pro Max in cinematic mode...
We have already scheduled next year's Iceland Tour with Nat Expo Tours! Dates are June 19-28, 2023. More info and a detailed itinerary on our site: June 2023 Iceland Tour
Please message me if you have any questions about Iceland or any of our 2023 tours, including Cuba in February, an aurora adventure to arctic Norway in March, and Namibia in October, or visit our website: www.natexpotours.com
Cheers!
Colin
Polar Bear on the pack ice, 82˚N latitude, Svalbard, Norway
A polar bear crosses the pack ice north of Svalbard, Norway with Oceanwide Expeditions. Our ship, the M/V Ortelius, passed 82˚N latitude as we watched this female bear cross the moving ice. Footage by Mike Haring and myself.
It's very possible that we will lead a group to Svalbard in the near future with Nat Expo Tours. We currently have next year's tours up on our site and if you subscribe to our newsletter on the homepage, you will get a $200 discount on the Arctic Norway Aurora Adventure, March 14-22, 2023: www.natexpotours.com
Thank you for following,
Colin
Alkefjellet, Svalbard
Alkefjellet, Day 6 of our Svalbard adventure with Oceanwide Expeditions. A birder's paradise to say the least, where flocks of guillemots and gulls filled the cliffs and sky, at times resembling a swarm of insects when viewed from a distance.
Please stay tuned for more from Svalbard as I edit through thousands of images & videos...
Thank you for following along!
Colin
Brünnich’s Guillemot
Brünnich’s Guillemot
Brünnich’s Guillemots
Guillemots and gulls
Our ship, the M/V Oretlius
Atlantic Walrus
The Atlantic walrus, or Odobenus rosmarus, is also known as “Tooth Walker” by Inuit peoples because they use their tusks to haul themselves ashore and move around on land. Odobenus translates from Latin as “tooth walking sea horse.”
Svalbard, Norway was my first opportunity to witness and photograph these saber-toothed sea cows of the north (I wrote that one). At more than 2,000 pounds, they are massive creatures, and it would be easy to underestimate their agility by just watching them on land but to observe them in the water is a different story…
I have more to share from our Svalbard adventure with Oceanwide Expeditions, so please stay tuned. We may eventually take a group there with Nat Expo Tours, but for now we are scheduled to return to arctic Norway for an Aurora & Arctic Landscape Tour in March of 2023! Please message me for details on that or visit our website: https://naturalexposurestours.com/norway-tour/
Cheers!
Colin
Atlantic Puffins, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
The Westman Islands in Iceland are home to the world's largest Atlantic puffin colony. We were lucky to have great weather on the islands as we observed & photographed the puffins collecting food for their young, which will soon emerge from their burrows and plunge into the ocean below. Take a look at the third image and you'll see what I mean when I say these little sh*ts are challenging to capture in flight...
We have already scheduled next year's Iceland tour with Nat Expo Tours. Dates are June 19-28, 2023. Cost is $4,695. More details on our website: www.natexpotours.com
Please message me if you have any questions. Thank you and feel free to share!
Colin
