A Naturalist, Guide, Instructor and a Photographer all wrapped-up in one package.
A chance meeting...
A few months ago in The Bar & Bait Shop, we added the post "Yellowstone or Bust!" about a recent Guided Summer Bear & Wolf Tour through Yellowstone National Park. Our guide took us on a fantastic little adventure though the Lamar Valley in the Northeast part of the park. Not only did we get a great education about the local surroundings and wildlife, we also got to capture some amazing moments on camera. What we also discovered was that our guide is a professional nature and wildlife photographer. In fact, his photography and wildlife knowledge so impressed us that we thought we needed to showcase his talent here. Oh yeah, his name is Kyle Moon and we think you'll also be impressed by the cool shots he manages to snap.
A little skinny on our guy...
Kyle Moon is a professional nature & wildlife photographer based out of Gardiner, Montana. He grew up in Orlando, Florida in a house full of extroverts so he describes his demeanor as "very loud and outgoing." He loves nothing more than getting together with family and friends over a few drinks while reminiscing about old times. Coming from the city, he didn't even know what backpacking was until he got to college where he got a Bachelor's Degree in degree in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation. When he began to get serious about nature photography, he found a new, vastly different side of himself that thrives in peace and solitude with an intense commitment to protecting the wild spaces. Since then, he has worked many conservation jobs ranging from Florida to Guyana, to Alaska and Montana. He has also served his community as a board member with the Sacajawea Audubon Society in Bozeman, Montana and continues to be an avid birder. He has traveled the world on many outdoor adventures while honing his photography skills along the way.
As a wildlife and nature photographer he is often asked what his favorite animal or location is. We asked the same dang thing while on our guided tour and he stated, "I can't say that I have a preference, I do know that I love exploring new places and immersing myself with my subjects. I think what’s most important is the experiences you create when you get behind the camera." Enough said eh?
Moonman's photographic journey in his words...
I inadvertently got hooked on nature photography when I took an Avian Biology Class in college. At first, I was using my camera as a tool for identification, but I would occasionally score a photograph that was gratifying. Once I was comfortable identifying birds, I strived to compose better photographs and develop my photographic eye.
Now, there are many reasons why I grab my camera and go, but my motivation is led by impact and my insatiable appetite for the outdoors. I have a large network of followers that have expressed vicarious appreciation for the subjects I capture in my viewfinder. Receiving this feedback has shifted my approach as a photographer to also capture images that raise awareness of conservation issues. Since grasping this concept I have volunteered my time with local non-profits and contributed my work to various environmental agencies to shed light on protecting what I love most—Nature.
Whether I'm going out for a specific shot-in-mind or going out to explore, with my camera in hand I feel liberated from the “real world” and am humbled by the natural world around me. This keeps me coming back every chance I get!
Yellowstone through Kyle's eyes...
Kyle specializes in wildlife and has a keen eye for spotting animals in the park all while being able to interpret behavior and anticipate what might happen next. Kyle says, “The beautiful thing about Yellowstone is that this is my office; every day is a new day and you never know what kind of opportunity you will run into." Yellowstone is truly one of a kind! There’s nowhere else on the planet that is considered a super volcano which hosts more than half of the worlds geothermal features all while being home to America’s wildest predators: bears, wolves, lions, lynx, wolverines, etc. Not to mention that our national mammal, the American bison are denizens of this magnificent landscape too. This is all possible as a result of the protection of large ecosystems that are still connected and intact today which is known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Kyle’s goal is to bring all this to life for his clients through visualizations and interpretation.
Yellowstone in his words...
As someone that has immersed himself in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) for the past seven years, I can argue that Yellowstone is one of the most unique places on the planet. I always ask my clients what’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say, “Yellowstone?” Many things are usually said, but generally everyone comes up with Old Faithful. So we have a starting point. Yes, Yellowstone is a super volcano that has a crater—or caldera—about 45 x 30 miles wide and has more than half of the entire World’s geothermal features right within its boundaries! No other country on this planet can claim this. If driving in a volcanic crater observing various different geothermal features such as hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, and geysers isn’t exciting enough just wait until I show you what lives in Yellowstone!
Although The Lewis & Clark Expedition never stepped foot in Yellowstone, it is still presumed that all the wildlife species that they discovered and would have come across can still be found in Yellowstone today! So, I would ask you if I am taking you on a wildlife tour, “What are we hoping to see today?” About 95% of the time I get the same exact answer—bears and wolves. I’m not surprised, but I always find it interesting that those are the target species people wish to see—if they only knew our history of eliminating these very species from the landscape. So what’s the big deal then? Why does everyone flock to Yellowstone to see bears and wolves? Well without question, it’s the best place in the world to view these animals in the wild, as wild animals. But there’s much more to see than these two species. In fact, there’s plenty more to see than the average tourist’s eye and that’s where I come in!
As your naturalist/wildlife guide, I am available to provide you with an unforgettable experience. I am there to keep you safe, show you the things you cannot see, explain and interpret the interactions as they unfold before our eyes, manage your time most efficiently according to whatever your goals may be, but most importantly, pique your curiosity of Yellowstone. It is a very wonderous place with deep geological and historical roots, but yet it’s so dynamic and is forever changing. Don’t believe me? Ask your parents, or even grandparents on what Yellowstone was like when they visited. I can assure you their story will be very different than yours.
As your photography instructor, I am there to provide you with the tools to become a better photographer. Whether you are just starting out and need to know the concepts and fundamentals of basic nature and wildlife photography, or are a professional visiting and want to know where your target subject has been frequenting, I have something for you! I have accrued years of experience in understanding local animal migrations and patterns within Yellowstone throughout all seasons of the year which has yielded many successful wildlife encounters. I am there to aid in interpreting animal behavior which is not only imperative in safety for both you and the animal, but could also lead you to capture the shot you’ve been trying to get, but just was never ready for it. I’m there to get you three steps ahead of your subject through anticipation so you can practice patience where you can spend quality time pressing the shutter instead of chasing off your subject. Most importantly, I am here to teach ethical wildlife photography so we can enjoy to do what we love while mitigating altering our subjects behavior. The goal in the end is to get out and have fun! If you walk away capturing your dream shot I would be honored to be a part of that for you, but in the end I can guarantee you will walk away with something that will resonate with you that will improve your photography from another photographers perspective.
BTW, thanks Kyle for representing the Pacific Cap on top of the mountain---you nailed it!
Again, we wanted to introduce you to Moonman and a glimpse into his spectacular photography. As you can tell, not only does he have an incredible artistic eye, he also has the background and right approach to capture these type of shots. Like most photographers and artists who have multiple professions, we need to do what we can to showcase their wonderful talent and to get the word out on on the streets about them. Go now to sign up for his Monthly Newsletter at:
Kyle also has a website where you can go directly to purchase his photography online in many different mediums from canvas to high gloss metal prints. However, plan on spending quite a bit of time searching through his galleries---there are waaaaaay too many cool photographs to choose from! You can also take an in-person gander of some of his work in the local retail shops around the Gardiner area. If you plan on making a future trip to Yellowstone National Park and need a wildlife photography guide/instructor, drop him a line to set things up and tell him Islands To Highlands says Aloha!
Moonman is offering 30% off Prints until December 31st, 2024.
Use Coupon Code: ISLANDSTOHIGHLANDS.
How To Find Him:
Website: https://www.moonman.photography/
Gallery & Shop: https://www.moonmanphotography.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonman04/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoonManPhotos
Email (For Tours & General inquiries): MoonMan.Photography@gmail.com
#islandstohighlands #moonmanphotography #kylemoon #wildlifephotography #photographyinstructor #wildlifephotographer #wildlife #wildlifephotos #yellowstone #lamarvalley #travel #adventure #wildlifeguide #yellowstonenationalpark #gardiner #montana #wyoming #yellowstonewildlife
This is one of our absolute favs...BIG Tatonka!
Comments