Join Steve and Nicole on an unforgettable adventure as they lead nature photography tours to some of the most stunning destinations around the globe! With a passion for the natural world, they are excited to share their expertise and help you create breathtaking images that showcase the beauty of our planet. Together, Steve and Nicole share a profound love for nature, and they invite you to join them in exploring its wonders, capturing unforgettable moments, and fostering a deeper appreciation for our planet.
We are absolutely thrilled to have the privilege of traveling the world and sharing incredible experiences with our clients as we explore the most diverse and unique destinations our planet has to offer. Each trip we design is crafted with care and attention to detail, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the joy of photography and the thrill of adventure. With our long-standing relationships with some of the best guides and naturalists in the regions we visit, you’ll gain unique insights and unparalleled access to the beauty around you. Plus, throughout every journey, you’ll benefit from having two dedicated instructors by your side, ready to support and inspire you every step of the way. Join us for an unforgettable experience where the wonders of nature come alive and let your creativity flourish!
Embrace the adventure with Steve and Nicole and discover the stunning beauty of our wonderous natural world!
For over 40 years, Steve Gettle has dedicated his life to capturing the stunning beauty of nature through his lens. With countless hours spent photographing wildlife and the breathtaking landscapes that surround us, Steve’s work radiates his deep love for the natural world. His vibrant images invite viewers to appreciate the wonders of wildlife and wild places like never before.
Renowned for his unique perspective, Steve has had his work featured in a variety of esteemed publications, such as National Geographic, Canadian Geographic, Audubon, and the BBC. His photographs have also found their way into calendars and books from organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and the National Wildlife Federation, highlighting his commitment to wildlife conservation.
One of Steve’s greatest joys is sharing his expertise through dynamic photo tours and workshops. He offers personalized experiences focused on helping individuals enhance their nature photography skills in breathtaking, once-in-a-lifetime locations. Steve has also collaborated with organizations across the country, leading workshops and teaching for the North American Nature Photographers Association, the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, The Adirondack Photography Institute, and the Photographic Society of America.
Steve’s exceptional talent has earned him numerous accolades. As a multiple award winner in the BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest and a frequent honoree in Nature’s Best photography contests, his work continues to inspire aspiring photographers everywhere.
Steve’s captivating photographs have graced galleries and museums across the globe, including prestigious venues such as the Museum of Natural History in London and the American Museum of Natural History in New York. His work has also been showcased in two remarkable solo shows at The National Center for Nature Photography.
As an engaging and lively speaker, Steve captivates audiences at regional and national photography conventions with his inspiring presentations. He covers a variety of photographic and creative topics.
In addition to his photography, Steve is passionate about giving back. Each year, he donates his time and talents to various environmental and educational organizations, further demonstrating his commitment to preserving the beauty of our planet.
Dive into the world of Steve Gettle and experience the joy of nature photography through his eyes!
Nicole’s journey as a photographer and a naturalist started in her teenage years, knee-deep in the wonders of nature beside a frog pond near her home. Gazing through the camera lens, watching behaviors, this early experience ignited her enduring love for the natural world. As happens to many of us, however, the working world called, leading her into a 20-year career in management consulting. Despite this detour, her passion for wildlife never wavered.
Going out every weekend, camera in hand, Nicole explored wild places and captured wild moments. She photographed countless species and immersed herself in the intricate details of habitats and life cycles. Ultimately, she combined her love for nature with her commitment to wildlife and advocacy by volunteering with an environmental nonprofit in Northen Virginia: the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. She served as its President for ten years where she played a key role in its growth and ultimately left her career in management consulting to become the Conservancy’s first Executive Director.
Today, as Steve’s partner in both photography and life, she travels the globe, exploring and photographing the beauty and wild connections that inspire her. From the savannahs of Africa to the Pantanal of Brazil to the mountains of Chile, the jungles of Uganda and the undeniable magic of Madagascar, she falls in love again and again with the wildlife of our world.
With over 15 years of serious experience as a nature photographer, Nicole enjoys sharing the wonders of nature and inspiring others in exploring that passion. Through her images she aims to connect people with wildlife and to foster a deep appreciation for the natural world and its incredible inhabitants. Nicole’s images and stories have been featured by the National Wildlife Federation, Audubon and other nonprofit organizations, and she has earned recognition from Bird Photographer of the Year.
Mike Whear is a passionate nature photographer whose love for wildlife and the outdoors began in childhood. Growing up, he spent much of his time fishing on the water and hiking and backpacking in the woods, which instilled in him a deep connection to nature.
Mike’s interest in photography blossomed during his teenage years. As he traveled, he felt an increasing desire to capture the beauty he witnessed in the natural world, from sweeping landscapes to intimate moments with wildlife.
With nearly 15 years of experience as a serious nature photographer, Mike has earned recognition for his work, including publications, awards in competitions, and contributions to nonprofit organizations, where his donated photos have been sold to raise funds for conservation efforts. His travels take him around the world to experience and photograph some of the planet’s most stunning and remote natural environments.
Through his photography, Mike aims to share the wonders of the natural world and inspire others to connect with the outdoors. His hope is that his images will evoke the same sense of awe and appreciation for nature that he feels every time he ventures into the wild.
An 8-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Mike currently resides in Howell, Michigan. He is also serving his third consecutive term as President of the West Oakland Camera Club, where he works with fellow photographers to foster community and growth in photography.
With our schedule becoming increasingly busier, we found it difficult to fit in all the tours and workshops that people have grown to love. To address this, we enlisted the expertise of our dear friend Mike Whear to lead some of those events. Mike is an excellent photographer, who has worked with Steve on different workshops for over a decade and we are excited for you to experience his passion and knowledge.
We’ve created a comprehensive gear list to share the equipment we use for the various types of nature photography we do. When a piece of gear is included in this list, you can trust that it has been carefully researched and rigorously tested in the field by us.
While we do have sponsorships from a few manufacturers, we only sought these partnerships because we genuinely believe in their products and have used them ourselves. We have chosen to decline any financial compensation for these sponsorships to ensure you receive our honest and unbiased opinions about the gear.
We have a wide range of equipment to support our diverse nature photography work, which includes capturing images of birds, wildlife, landscapes, high-speed flash photography, and extreme macro photography. Each of these different genres requires specific tools, and we have built our gear around our specific needs over a 40-year career.
Remember, while the right equipment can enhance your creative possibilities, it won’t make you a better photographer on its own. Ultimately, hard work, experience, and a good eye are what truly matter.
This is the gear that we use daily on all our trips around the world and when we are shooting around our home. We have virtually identical gear…. mainly because we don’t share well!
Fill flash
Support
This is the gear we use for photographing hummingbirds in flight, flying squirrels, bats and songbirds in flight at the reflection pond, as well as leaping frogs, etc. Basically, any super-fast action that we want to freeze using high-speed flash.
This is the equipment we use for doing macro photography in the field around home as well as around the world.
Macro Support in the field
This is the equipment Steve uses in the studio for extreme macro photography from 3x (full-frame house fly) up to 20x (full-frame tiny section of the housefly’s compound eye)
High-speed Macro Flash equipment in the Studio – Steve mostly uses this gear for photographing small insects in flight
Macro Support in the Studio For the most part all the work in the studio is done on very sturdy lab workbenches
We want to take a moment to acknowledge the remarkable individuals from around the globe who play an essential role in the success of our photo tours. Our one-of-a-kind adventures would not be possible without the unwavering support of our dedicated team of travel professionals.
From hand-picked, world-class guides and skilled drivers who expertly navigate you through breathtaking landscapes, and epic wildlife encounters to the lodge owners and managers who provide warm hospitality – every individual contributes their expertise and passion. From the chefs and restaurant staff to the porters and gardeners, every hospitality professional will work tirelessly to ensure that every detail is taken care of.
Together, this incredible network ensures that from the moment you are greeted at the airport to the conclusion of your unforgettable adventure, you are treated like a cherished guest. Your comfort and enjoyment are our highest priorities, and it is thanks to these amazing partners that we can offer you a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Thank you to every one of you for being part of our team and helping to make certain that our journeys create lasting memories for our clients!
The technology to digitally manipulate, enhance and even create composite images from separate photographs is inspiring many artists to create new and exciting works. However, some photographers are using this technology to manipulate and add elements that were not in the original image without being truthful about their manipulation.
For many photography collectors part of the charm of the medium is its “honesty”: the fact that the artist not only witnessed the actual event when it occurred but was also able to capture it on film. I am concerned that if we as photographers are not
honest about how we make our images, the public perception of the “honesty” of all photography will be in question.
At this time, none of the images that I print are digitally altered or manipulated in any way beyond basic color correction and sharpening as needed.
If in the future my policy should change, I will label any manipulated images as such, allowing you to make an informed decision.
Steve Gettle, February 25th 2001
© 1988 – 2025 Steve Gettle. All Rights Reserved.