Cindy van der Velde Photography

11/22/2025

Caught this adorable koala completely focused on his eucalyptus snack. Such a calm and peaceful moment..

11/16/2025

Fall Colors Lamb Park Las Vegas🍂

Some trees are already glowing in full fall colors, a few are even past their peak… but most are still bright green, slowly easing into the season.

I love this mix, it feels like walking through all stages of autumn at once. Quiet water, colorful leaves, and that calm feeling you only get in nature. A perfect little fall moment in Las Vegas 🍁✨

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11/10/2025

🍁 Excited to see my shots featured in Nevada’s Fall Colors!

It’s always so rewarding to share the beauty of the season through my lens, every year, the desert surprises me with bursts of gold, orange, and red against those stunning red rocks. 📸

Check it out here 👇

If you’re looking for fall color near Las Vegas, one surprising spot is the Calico Basin in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. If you time it right, not only will you find vibrant trees in their autumn attire, you’ll also find colorful rocks. When walking along the Calico Basin boardwal...

10/30/2025

I got lucky at the Pine Nut Range two days ago, look who showed up! 🐴💦

Whiskey and Santana came trotting in for a drink at the pond and couldn’t resist being their silly, playful selves.

Watching them splash, chase, and enjoy a moment of freedom was pure magic. Wild, beautiful, and completely unbothered - just how it should be. Just boys being boys 🌾💛

10/29/2025

Spotted this majestic bald eagle at Lake Tahoe 🦅
Perched high above the water, scanning the lake like a true king of the skies - patient, focused, and probably judging all the fishermen below 😄

10/20/2025

Charleston Peak at sunset, the sky turned pink and golden, lighting up the snowy mountains and pine trees. Moments like this make me stop, breathe, and just take it all in. Only a short drive from Las Vegas, yet it feels like another world. 🌲❄️💖

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10/11/2025

🍂 Golden Days on Mt. Charleston 🍂

There’s something magical about fall on the South Loop Trail. The air turns crisp, the sunlight filters through the aspens, and every corner glows with shades of yellow and gold.

This shot was taken on one of those perfect mountain afternoons, the kind where time slows down and nature paints her own masterpiece. The fallen log caught the light just right, surrounded by the shimmer of golden leaves.

If you’re heading up soon, the colors are peaking at Echo Overlook and South Loop, so grab your camera (or just your sense of wonder) and go chase the glow.

📍 South Loop Trail, Mt. Charleston, Nevada
📸 Cindy van der Velde Photography

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08/16/2025

Color in the Desert

Today’s adventure took us to Lee Canyon, and wow.. so many bright yellow wildflowers were showing off! 🌼

I actually had to hike back to the car just to grab my camera (totally worth it).

People think the desert is only sand, but we’ve got all 4 seasons, wildflowers that look like sunshine, green pine trees, and mountains that make your jaw drop. 🌵🌲🏔

06/29/2025

Sometimes being in the right place at the right time makes all the difference.

Like this moment when a little wild b***o perfectly posed in front of Charleston Peak - one of Nevada’s most stunning backdrops.
It felt like nature staged the shot just for me. 🐴⛰️

Fun fact: Wild b***os in Nevada are descendants of pack animals used by miners in the 1800s. After being released or escaping, they adapted to the harsh desert environment and now roam freely!

05/17/2025

Spotted this gorgeous wild bachelor today, just him, the trees, the wind, and the Mountains.
He’s a pinto and was peacefully grazing alone, and I kept my distance - this photo was taken from about 50 feet away using a 500mm telephoto lens.

Please remember: Wild horses are wild. Admire them from afar, give them space, and always use a zoom lens, not your feet. Let’s respect their home so they can continue to roam free. 🏜️💚

📍Spring Mountains, Nevada
📸 Canon R6 with 500mm lens