Monarch Butterfly Photo Expedition

Monarch butterflies, vital pollinators supporting food production and more, make a 3,000-mile annual migration from the U.S. to Mexico. A vulnerable species, their journey is at risk due to habitat loss. Local communities and WWF are protecting their winter forests. Now, we can help preserve monarch habitats in the U.S.

Each winter, millions of monarch butterflies migrate to the fir forests of Mexico's Central Highlands—watch this visual preview to see what it's like to walk among them, take photos, and listen to the air hum with the vibration of their wings!

Find out how to take amazing pictures of the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico with nature photo expert Court Whelan. Get expert tips and techniques to enhance your photos of these butterflies!

Watch thousands of monarch butterflies gathering in and flying around Mexico's alpine fir forest.

Capturing images of birds in flight requires the right mix of knowledge, technique and patience. Join Eric Ramirez and fellow Photo Expedition Leader Fernando Romo for a practical and inspiring session on bird photography. Designed for beginner and seasoned shutterbugs alike, this webinar covers the basics of bird behavior, gear selection and camera settings for dynamic shots. Learn how to identify and photograph birds in a variety of habitats from forests to wetlands, and get tips for enhancing your images in post-processing.

Grab your camera and get ready for one of nature’s most spellbinding spectacles: the monarch butterfly migration. Photo Expedition Leader Eric Ramirez shares expert advice on how to photograph these brilliant endangered creatures as they gather by the millions in Mexico’s Central Highlands each winter. Learn how to anticipate butterfly behavior and navigate shifting light in dense fir forests; get tips for composing images that blend wildlife, landscape and local culture; and find out what equipment Eric recommends.

From majestic mountains to enormous elephants, we often focus on the "big picture" when it comes to nature photography. But to tell the whole story, you also have to look for the beauty in small things. Photo Expedition Leader Laura Geissinger explains how macro photography can give us a deeper understanding of the natural phenomena we encounter, from the petals of an alpine wildflower to the tiny toes of a tree frog in a tropical rainforest. Get her tips for improving your close-up shots of small subjects, and take a peek at the tiny treasures she’s photographed on Nat Hab trips.