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Van Os Photo Safaris, Vashon, WA (2025)

06/17/2024

Join expert tour leader, Josh Miller, on a photography trip to Patagonia's Mountain Landscapes in Austral Spring. Miller is a professional nature photographer and educator, whose images have been published by National Geographic, Sierra Club, Audubon, The Wall Street Journal, Outside Magazine, and more. This guided, inclusive tour offers the opportunity to shoot two of the most spectacular mountain photography destinations in the world - Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks. Here, you are able to capture soaring granite mountain peaks, massive glaciers, and pristine lakes, as well as the chance to photograph foxes, guanacos, and birds in birthing and nesting season. Located at the southern tip of South America, it is an area surrounded by the South Atlantic on its east, the storm-ridden South Pacific on its west, and to its south the tempestuous, Antarctic-influenced "Southern Ocean." Join us and discover why Patagonia is one of our favorite photography destinations.

Van Os Photo Safaris

06/16/2024

Join award-winning photographer, naturalist, and professional tour leader Melissa Scott as she guides you through her favorite parts of Olympic National Park during Wildflower Season. From the mountains to the rugged Pacific Coast, you'll photograph wildlife in vibrant alpine wildflower meadows, explore the iconic and photogenic Northwest temperate rain forests draped in moss and lichen, and shoot dramatic coastal seascapes, tide pools, and sea life.

The trip is limited to 7 participants and includes all meals, lodging, ground transportation, national park fees, photo guide, and instruction. Only 2 spaces available - Register now!

Van Os Photo Safaris

06/06/2024

Photograph the blazing yellow aspen forests that punctuate the rugged Colorado Rocky Mountains topography—jagged summits and deep breathtaking valleys under blue sky. Improve your photography skills while learning about light, color and graphic design on location with our leader in his home state. Our Colorado Fall Colors Photo Tour is September 29 - October 5, 2024. Contact us for more information!

Van Os Photo Safaris

05/28/2024

Photograph the summer arrival of shorebirds, waterfowl and northern songbirds in Alaska’s arctic. Create images of grazing musk oxen, caribou, moose and red foxes on barren tundra hillsides and verdant valleys—all under the summer’s long hours of daylight. Arctic Birds and Musk Oxen of Nome, Alaska is a trip you'll always remember.

Van Os Photo Safaris

05/24/2024

Visit Croatia and Slovenia at the height of autumn color!
Led by our founder, Joe Van Os, you'll travel “off the beaten path” away from crowded tourist destinations. Photograph the autumn-hued landscapes of rolling hills, traditional villages, lush vineyards, private estates and wine cellars, and the Adriatic seacoast. Sample and photograph the diverse local cuisine and excellent regional wines.
This incredible tour is one of our most popular destinations. The tour includes all meals, lodging, ground transportation, wine-tasting sessions, entrance fees, photo guides, and instruction. Call us today to learn more!

Van Os Photo Safaris

05/15/2024

Join tour leader, David Jaffe, as you photograph the blazing yellow aspen forests that punctuate the rugged Colorado Rocky Mountains topography—jagged summits and deep breathtaking valleys under a blue sky. Improve your photography skills while learning about light, color, and graphic design on location with our tour leader in his home state. Jaffe has been guiding travelers and teaching about the natural world and how to photograph it for over 30 years. Throughout his professional career, he has worked as a US national park ranger and wilderness expedition leader and has guided photography and nature travelers on all 7 continents. Contact us to learn more!

Van Os Photo Safaris

05/11/2024

No other photo location in North America can generate as powerful an image of soaring granite monoliths and spectacular glacially-carved valleys than Yosemite National Park. More than any other landscape, Yosemite is the setting that defines the Sierra Nevada and, in a broader context, stands as a geographical icon for the American West. Within the park, the names of its prominent features—El Capitan and Half Dome—not only immediately evoke the legendary presence of John Muir and Ansel Adams, but also embody the quintessential symbols of the American wilderness.

This incredible tour is led by Josh Miller, a professional nature photographer and educator. His images have been published by National Geographic, Sierra Club, Audubon, Microsoft, The Wall Street Journal, and Outside Magazine, and he is a regular contributor to Outdoor Photographer Magazine. Josh is a favorite tour leader here at Van Os Photo Safaris and will guide you to carefully chosen locations throughout the park. Check out our trip reports to learn more!

04/24/2024

Rugged, rocky headlands, a lighthouse carved into a granite ledge, a quiet harbor on a dreamy foggy morning, tide pools and crashing waves, or a hillside of flaming maples and birches—all these exciting photographic possibilities describe our classic Acadia National Park photo tour in October.
Our inclusive trip is timed for the average peak of autumn color. Highlights include exploring charming coastal villages and quiet harbors and photographing sunrise over an expansive island-studded coastline from atop Cadillac Mountain.
Contact us to learn more!

Van Os Photo Safaris

04/19/2024

Join award-winning photographer, naturalist, and professional tour leader Melissa Scott as she guides you through her favorite parts of Olympic National Park during Wildflower Season.

From the mountains to the rugged Pacific Coast, you'll photograph wildlife in vibrant alpine wildflower meadows, explore the iconic and photogenic Northwest temperate rain forests draped in moss and lichen, and shoot dramatic coastal seascapes, tide pools, and sea life.
The trip is limited to 7 participants and includes all meals, lodging, ground transportation, national park fees, photo guide, and instruction. Only 2 spaces available - Register now!

Van Os Photo Safaris

04/13/2024

Join our founder, Joe Van Os, for the experience of a lifetime with India's Kumbh Mela Festival, Varanasi, and the Nomadic Tribes of Gujarat. The Kumbh Mela Festival is one of the largest and most photogenic assemblages of humanity on the planet. Reside in a luxury camp at the Kumbh. Photograph iconic Varanasi by boat at sunrise. Create images of seldom-photographed ornately colorful tribespeople in the Gujarat desert. Experience the incredible faces of India.

Van Os Photo Safaris

04/08/2024

Join our founder, Joe Van Os, as he takes you off the beaten path for a unique photo tour of Croatia and Slovenia. Learn the art of natural light food photography and food arrangement with the help of a professional food stylist while we sample and photograph exceptional cuisine and excellent regional wines. Explore the autumn-hued landscapes of rolling hills, traditional villages, lush vineyards, private estates, and wine cellars, as well as the Adriatic seacoast of this beautiful multicultural region. This will be a trip to remember. Contact us to learn more!

Van Os Photo Safaris

04/01/2024

Join our incredible tour leaders, Mark Thomas and Paulo Boute, for our "Jaguars and Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal" photo safari! This is one of our top-selling and favorite tours! You will explore the world's premier wetland with photo access to families of jaguars, stunning birds, and animals ranging from giant river otters to capybaras and jacaré caiman. Five full days are dedicated to jaguar photography from small boats with only three photographers per boat. Travel with our incredible guides who intimately know the wildlife and natural history of the Pantanal and guarantee a trip you will never forget!
Multiple Departure Dates 2024

Van Os Photo Safaris
Leading tours of a lifetime since 1980.

04/01/2024

Our Great Gray Owls of the North Woods trip is truly a one-of-a-kind photographic journey that produces stunning visuals of a subject that remains a challenging feat for many photographers.

Here are some great gray owl facts: Strix nebulosa
- Great gray owls are the world’s largest owls by length.
-They are found in boreal forests throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
-They are the only member of the genus Strix found in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
-The males are usually smaller than females, as with most owl species. Average weight 2.84 pounds for females and 2.2 pounds for males.
- Great grey owls do not build nests, so they typically use nests previously used by a large raptor or the top of a large snapped off tree.

Learn more with our recent Great Gray Owls of the North Woods, Alberta 2024 Trip Report by Joe Van Os

03/20/2024

Join us May 29 - June 15 for our signature two-week extended voyage around Darwin's enchanted islands. Our Ultimate Galápagos photo tour is the most exciting and comprehensive Galápagos itinerary we've ever offered. Visit virtually all of the most spectacular photo locations. Fantastic boat, with great shooting, wonderful food, tropical sunshine, and lots of fun!

Van Os Photo Safaris
Creating trips of a lifetime since 1980

03/04/2024

Completely isolated for nearly 100 million years, Madagascar—the “eighth continent”—has evolved into an amazing collection of photogenic endemic plants and animals. Join us on our upcoming tour, Wild Madagascar, as we travel via private chartered flights and spacious ground transportation to the island’s best photo spots! Contact us to learn more.

Van Os Photo Safaris

02/23/2024

One of our favorite photography destinations is located at the southern tip of South America. An area surrounded by the South Atlantic on its east, the storm-ridden South Pacific on its west, and to its south the tempestuous, Antarctic-influenced "Southern Ocean." Patagonia's mountain landscapes offer the opportunity to shoot two of the most spectacular mountain photography destinations in the world - Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks. Here, you are able to capture soaring granite mountain peaks, massive glaciers, and pristine lakes, as well as the chance to photograph foxes, guanacos, and birds in birthing and nesting season.

Van Os Photo Safaris

02/12/2024

Alaska's Lake Clark National Park & Preserve provides some of the most thrilling and productive photography of immense coastal brown bears to be found anywhere. Located in a vast, pristine coastal wilderness, this spectacular national park offers world-class access to the bears—mothers with small cubs, huge males, and inquisitive juveniles—and we photograph them at close range while on foot, led by renowned bear expert and professional photographer Gary Alt!
We have reserved the entire Silver Salmon Creek Lodge in July and August for the exclusive use of our group of eight photographers. There are no fishermen or tourists in the lodge during our stay, which makes for a very relaxed atmosphere and allows meals to revolve around our schedule as the bears, light, and weather shape our daily photography plans. The excellent home-cooked meals, a cozy lodge atmosphere, lively group camaraderie around the dining table, and bears just outside the front door make this photographic experience one you will remember forever. Contact us to learn more!

Van Os Photo Safaris

02/05/2024

Explore the diverse beauty of Olympic National Park on a quintessential Pacific Northwest photo adventure. The rugged coastline, rainforests draped in moss, and alpine meadows framed by majestic mountains offer incredible photographic opportunities. Join professional naturalist and photographer Melissa Scott for a 5-day inclusive photography tour to capture the essence of this remarkable park.
One of our most popular tours, this is an experience you will always remember.
Tour is limited to 7 participants.

Van Os Photo Safaris
Creating trips of a lifetime since 1980.

01/28/2024

Have you been dreaming of the south of France in Spring? The people, food, flowers, and sun-drenched coast are unlike anything in the world. Now, consider the dreamlike quality of a herd of white horses as they thunder—manes flashing, foam flying—across the shallow marshlands of France’s famous Camargue. Consider, too, the prospect of four days of electrifying photography with your expert guides Jeff Vanuga and Patrice Aguilar. If an amazing photo tour in the south of France this spring is for you, contact us to learn more.

Van Os Photo Safaris
Creating trips of a lifetime since 1980.

01/20/2024

Join us in Japan to photograph a Winter Wildlife Spectacle! You'll be up close to the action with a small private group of photographers led by Wayne Lynch. Lynch is one of Canada’s best-known wildlife photographers and a world-class naturalist.
From the Japanese cranes in Hokkaido to the majestic Steller’s and white-tailed sea eagles to the Japanese macaques—the snow monkeys—taking refuge in a steamy outdoor hot pool. On this Photo Safari, you will join us on an unforgettable journey and have the opportunity to experience the incredible beauty of Japan and its winter wildlife. Space is limited, so contact us today!

Van Os Photo Safaris
The world leader in exclusive photography tours since 1980.

01/13/2024

Make 2024 More Bearable!
Alaska's Lake Clark National Park provides some of the most thrilling and productive photography of immense coastal brown bears to be found anywhere. Located in a vast, pristine coastal wilderness, this spectacular national park offers world-class access to the bears—mothers with small cubs, huge males, and inquisitive juveniles—and we photograph them at close range while on foot! We see females quietly nursing their cubs, bears intently digging razor clams on expansive tidal flats, and males chasing salmon during active local salmon runs—charging bears, panicked fish, and water flying in all directions!

We have reserved the entire lodge at Silver Salmon Creek in July and August for the exclusive use of our group of eight photographers. There are no fishermen or tourists in the lodge during our stay, which makes for a very relaxed atmosphere and allows meals to revolve around our schedule as the bears, light, and weather shape our daily photography plans. Excellent home-cooked meals, a cozy lodge atmosphere, lively group camaraderie around the dining table, and bears just outside the front door make this photographic experience one you will remember forever.
Contact us to learn more!

Van Os Photo Safaris

01/07/2024

Join professional photographer and guide Todd Pierce, on our upcoming tour, Faroe Islands | Landscape Gems of the North Atlantic. Explore this dramatic and breathtaking landscape nestled onto the 62nd parallel. This stunning archipelago is a quick flight from Iceland and Denmark, yet seems a world away from the bustle of modern life.
National Geographic Traveler described the Faroe Islands, their winner of the best island destination in the world, as Unspoiled, unexplored, unbelievable. Contact us to see why we agree.

Van Os Photo Safaris
Creating trips of a lifetime since 1980

01/06/2024

At the southern tip of South America lies an area surrounded by the South Atlantic on its east, the storm-ridden South Pacific on its west, and to its south the tempestuous, Antarctic-influenced "Southern Ocean." The land is Patagonia.
Join us on our upcoming tour "Patagonia's Mountain Landscapes in Spring",
for the opportunity to shoot the landscapes and wildlife of two of the most spectacular mountain photography destinations in the world - Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks. Capture soaring granite mountain peaks, massive glaciers, and pristine lakes and the chance to capture photos of foxes, guanacos, and birds in birthing and nesting season.
Contact us to learn more.

Van Os Photo Safaris

12/31/2023

As we enter the last few hours of 2023, we wish you and yours a very happy New Year's Eve and look forward to seeing you in the field in 2024!

Van Os Photo Safaris

12/26/2023

This Spring, join us on a remarkable tour to an exciting country clearly positioned with one foot in Europe and one foot in Asia. In addition to outstanding photography opportunities, we explore the dramatic contrast of Turkey’s ancient and modern worlds, sample one of the world’s great cuisines, reside in charming accommodations, and appreciate the friends we make along the way. Contact us to learn more!

Van Os Photo Safaris

12/22/2023

Northeastern Italy features one of the most distinctive and photogenic mountain landscapes on Earth — the Dolomites. Steeply vertical walls of pale gray rock rise to nearly 10,000 feet above forested foothills, deep valleys, sweeping meadows, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and charming mountain towns.
Join our founder, Joe Van Os, June 2024 as he takes you on a trip of a lifetime. Limited space.

Van Os Photo Safaris

12/21/2023

Wishing you a peaceful Holiday Season and a New Year filled with hope.

From all of us at Van Os Photo Safaris

12/16/2023

Capture the very best of Yellowstone’s snowy interior—unique geothermal features, snow-encrusted landscapes, and foraging wildlife—with our local naturalist and professional photographer guides who know the park intimately. Four snow coach days and time to explore special areas on foot. Small-group photo tours. Limited spots!

Van Os Photo Safaris

12/15/2023

For those photographers who love shooting the world’s big cats a trip to photograph tigers in India is near the top of their bucket list. Our tiger photography tours provide exceptional access to the world’s most impressive tiger reserves. These trips are the “gold standard” of wild tiger photography tours!
Only 2 photographers per safari vehicle and expert guides. This is a trip of a lifetime. Limited Space - Book today!

Van Os Photo Safaris
Trips of a lifetime since 1980.

12/10/2023

What could be better than the south of France in the Spring? The wonderful people, incredible food, beautiful flowers, and sun-drenched coast with salt in the air. Join us for four days of electrifying photography with your expert guides Jeff Vanuga and Patrice Aguilar as you explore Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and experience the white horses of Camargue. If you've been dreaming of the south of France, this tour is for you - contact us to learn more.

Van Os Photo Safaris
Creating trips of a lifetime since 1980.

All photos by Jeff Vanuga Photographer