Colleen Kilbane - Photographer

Colleen Kilbane - Photographer Wildlife photographer based in Red Lodge, Montana Camera + Nature = Peace

Meadowlark at sunset. I didn't get any short eared owl images on this evening, but meadowlarks are one of my favorite b...
06/09/2026

Meadowlark at sunset.

I didn't get any short eared owl images on this evening, but meadowlarks are one of my favorite birds!

I could sit and photograph this busy little Hairy woodpecker family all day long. The male and female have been nonstop ...
05/28/2026

I could sit and photograph this busy little Hairy woodpecker family all day long. The male and female have been nonstop bringing food back to the babies — flies, dragonflies, and what looked like a big grub worm disappearing into that nest hole every few minutes.

One of the coolest things I caught today was the male carrying what appeared to be droppings out of the nest to keep the cavity clean. Nature is amazing in the little details. Although judging by the flies gathering around the entrance, those poor parents may be losing the housekeeping battle a bit.

The babies chirp loudly whenever a parent arrives, and every shift change feels like its own little wildlife documentary happening right in our yard. Such a gift to watch.

This sweet little fox completely caught us by surprise last week, curled up in the grass maybe 10 feet off the road head...
05/28/2026

This sweet little fox completely caught us by surprise last week, curled up in the grass maybe 10 feet off the road heading up Signal Mountain. She looked so peaceful, just napping away while the world drove past. 🦊

Many animals have learned that being close to humans sometimes means safety from larger predators. Nature is always adapting, and moments like this feel so special to witness. We kept our distance, let her rest, and carried on with full hearts.


The Tetons still take my breath away, but the experience has changed. So many bear jams, crowds, and chaos around wildli...
05/23/2026

The Tetons still take my breath away, but the experience has changed. So many bear jams, crowds, and chaos around wildlife photography now. Instead of chasing that, I’ve found myself slowing down — shooting monochrome landscapes with my Leica and focusing on those beautiful mountains. The only thing lacking was moody light and ominous clouds...did I care? Not one bit!



Sunset over the Beartooth Mountains in Red Lodge never gets old. Blankets of wildflowers cover the hillsides, the last g...
05/08/2026

Sunset over the Beartooth Mountains in Red Lodge never gets old. Blankets of wildflowers cover the hillsides, the last golden light spills across the peaks, and meadowlarks singing in the background like the soundtrack to a perfect Montana evening.

Moments like this remind me why my heart has always been — and always will be — right here in these mountains and wide open Montana skies.




There’s cold… and then there’s Fairbanks at -30. The kind that bites through anything, where every breath feels sharp an...
05/06/2026

There’s cold… and then there’s Fairbanks at -30. The kind that bites through anything, where every breath feels sharp and your camera starts to second guess your sanity. But geared up head to toe in battery-heated layers, tucked near a tiny Forest Service cabin a solid 90 minutes from anywhere, you settle in and wait.

And then the sky wakes up.

At first it’s a faint glow… easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Then suddenly it’s everywhere. The entire sky erupts—horizon to horizon—curtains of color spilling and twisting overhead as the solar wind sets everything in motion. Greens so intense they look electric, ribbons of magenta weaving through like something alive. Up here, the aurora doesn’t just glow… it burns neon across the night.

And you realize quickly—you don’t even know where to point your camera.

Every direction is the shot. You’re spinning, chasing light, trying to keep up as it dances faster than you can think. One minute you’re framed to the north, the next you’re swinging south, then straight up… over and over, lifting the whole tripod and camera to catch what’s happening directly above you. It turns into this full-body effort, like you’re in sync with the sky, just trying not to miss it.

My only disappointment? No strong foreground to anchor it all—no icy lake reflecting the colors, no mountains cutting into the glow. Just endless sky and trees. But honestly… seeing the aurora that intense, that alive, more than made up for it.

You forget about the cold. You forget about time.

You just keep shooting… all night, completely wrapped up in it. And the next day? Exhausted in a way that has nothing to do with no sleep—arms sore, body spent—but still buzzing from what you witnessed. Frozen, worn out, and already knowing you’d go right back out and do it again.



White Pocket after dark is like stepping into an ancient world. Everything takes a gentle, silent shift.Once the light ...
05/05/2026

White Pocket after dark is like stepping into an ancient world. Everything takes a gentle, silent shift.

Once the light fades, the silence settles in and the sky just explodes—the Milky Way stretching overhead like it’s been painted across the night.

Wandering through those wild rock formations during the daylight in preparation for our shoot, one shape jumped out at me—a perfect turtle, carved by time and just sitting there under the stars.

Moments like that stick with you. Quiet, surreal, and just a little bit unreal in the best way. ✨




Sunset at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park feels like stepping into a painting that slowly comes alive. As the lig...
05/04/2026

Sunset at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park feels like stepping into a painting that slowly comes alive. As the light drops, those crystal-clear waters start glowing, and the famous multicolored rocks shift from bright daytime sparkle to deep, rich tones—like polished gems under a fading sky.

The mountains catch the last light, the surface turns to glass, and for a few quiet minutes everything lines up—color, reflection, stillness. You find yourself standing there longer than planned, not wanting to break the moment, just watching it all slip gently into dusk.


There’s something about a cool, rainy morning at Church of the Transfiguration that feels like you’ve slipped into a qui...
05/04/2026

There’s something about a cool, rainy morning at Church of the Transfiguration that feels like you’ve slipped into a quieter version of the world.

Most days, this spot is a magnet for busloads of foreign tourists—crowds, chatter, selfie sticks, and the constant dance of trying to frame a shot without someone trying to knock you over. But today? Just the soft patter of rain, low clouds hugging the Tetons, and that perfect stillness that makes you slow down and actually feel God in this place.

Got up early, took my chances with the weather, and it paid off. No rush, no noise—just the old wooden chapel, moody light, and a scene that felt like it was waiting patiently all along.

Sometimes the magic isn’t just the place… it’s catching it when everyone else is still asleep.





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Red Lodge, MT
59068

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