Toby Gelston Photography

05/22/2026

Spring at Trillium Lake, OR

04/30/2026

We have just a few spots remaining for Winter Yellowstone! The crowds are gone. The geysers steam against snow and frozen trees. We move through the backcountry in exclusive snow coaches, stopping wherever the light and wildlife demand it. It's the closest thing to an African safari you'll find in America — and in over a decade of leading tours, it remains one of the most photographically rewarding places I've ever taken a group.

Yellowstone Winter = Magical! VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY! Join us as we return to the beauty of Yellowstone in Winter for a very special tour! Small group with private guides! Yellowstone in the magic of Winter is extraordinary! The park can only be accessed by private guides and snow coaches during...

04/05/2026

Fifty days across Japan, Thailand, and Laos come to an end today. I have so many moments to share—some I’ve teased in my stories, and others I’ll be posting soon. As I prepare for the long flight home, I’m looking back at this incredibly peaceful morning spent at Kuang Si in Laos.

The striking turquoise color of the water isn’t a result of heavy editing. It’s actually a bit of chemistry. As the water flows over the limestone rocks, it picks up high levels of calcium carbonate, which gives the pools that incredible hue.

I’m still compiling notes and working on the details for my Laos tour, but this waterfall outside of Luang Prabang will definitely be a stop. The target is September or early October 2028. That might sound like a long way off, but it will be here in the blink of an eye. If you want to be kept in the loop, go to photorec.tv/laos and add your name.

03/22/2026

Southeast Asia runs on "scooter transport" and sometimes the physics of it still boggles my mind. I’ve been collecting clips of these heavy lifters for years, from "rolling bombs" of gas canisters to literal mountains of tires. But what I caught on a quiet morning here in the capital of Laos a few days ago? That might be my new all-time

Watch till the end to see. What’s the wildest thing you have seen on two wheels?

03/08/2026

What a day of Birding/Photography!!

This morning, I captured a photo of a Blakiston’s Fish Owl—the world’s largest owl and one of the rarest birds on the planet. Just a few hours later, I found myself bouncing around in a small open boat, watching massive icebergs drift by as White-tailed Eagles and Steller’s Sea Eagles (the heaviest eagles in the world) soared overhead. I experimented with some panning shots today; while most turned out blurry, a few came out sharp—the eagle shot was taken at 1/80 of a second. All in all, it was a fantastic way to conclude our time in Hokkaido, Japan. McKay Photography Academy

02/27/2026

The traditional gassho-style houses at the Hida Folk Village lit up after dark.

This open-air museum features dozens of preserved buildings from the Edo period, and seeing them reflected in the pond at night is a completely different experience than visiting during the day.

If you're in Takayama during the winter illumination, it's worth the short trip from the city center to see these rooftops in the snow.

McKay Photography Academy

02/21/2026

We boarded a small boat in Rausu and headed out into the crushing sea ice, just a few miles from the Russian border. The cold out on the open water is intense. But we had a very specific goal for this Tour.

We were looking for one of the heaviest eagles on earth, and they showed up in numbers. A quick nerd note for you. They are actually spelled Steller's Sea Eagles, named after the German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, rather than "stellar" like the stars. Watching these massive birds dive over the ice is a remarkably quiet and grounding experience.

If you're ever curious about the history behind the name, I highly recommend a book called Where the Sea Breaks Its Back by Corey Ford. It documents Steller's grueling 18th-century journey and the discoveries he made along the way. It is a fantastic read.

A big thanks to our awesome Hokkaido guide .bastide.528

02/16/2026

It was an honor to join Austin James Jackson on his podcast to chat about the importance of intentionality in photography. Give it a listen for some deep dives into the craft. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toby-gelston-mastering-composition-by-shooting-with/id1685792242?i=1000749954950

02/16/2026

Landed in Hokkaido, Japan and feeling lucky to have seen these beautiful Red Crowned Cranes dancing!

10/20/2025

Leading trips here in the Southwest has been amazing (it's hard to believe I've been here just over a month!), but seeing all my friends' recent pics has me dreaming of different colors...

I'm officially missing Larch season! If you've never experienced it, larches are these incredible, rare coniferous trees whose needles turn a glowing yellow and drop every single fall.

I'm having vivid flashbacks to my 2024 hikes. I can still remember hiking in the dark to camp and then waking up completely surrounded by glowing larches. Then there was that classic Maple Pass hike... I got so lucky with the sun and a perfect cloud inversion. I had a giant grin plastered on my face ALLLL day, constantly asking myself, "Is this real life!?"

And while my travel schedule looks pretty full for 2026 with some really exciting trips planned, I've already made sure to protect some time to be back in the PNW during peak larch season!

Swipe through for some of my favorite golden moments from 2024.