Noppadol Paothong
@npaothongphoto.bsky.social
Conservation photographer, Associate Fellows with iLCP, Author of Save the Last Dance & Sage Grouse: Icon of the West, Contributor to @MissouriConservation & national publications, Exploring the wild - one frame at a time.
A pair of juvenile Trumpeter Swans fly low over waters near the Mississippi River in Missouri. Their gray-brown plumage marks their first winter. Once extirpated, the species was reintroduced and is now a regular winter presence on Missouri wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants and invertebrates.
December 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
A pair of juvenile Trumpeter Swans fly low over waters near the Mississippi River in Missouri. Their gray-brown plumage marks their first winter. Once extirpated, the species was reintroduced and is now a regular winter presence on Missouri wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants and invertebrates.
A Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) perches on a bare branch, scanning the winter woodland below for prey using an energy-efficient sit-and-wait strategy. Its layered feathers provide insulation and camouflage, revealing an adaptation to forest life.
December 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) perches on a bare branch, scanning the winter woodland below for prey using an energy-efficient sit-and-wait strategy. Its layered feathers provide insulation and camouflage, revealing an adaptation to forest life.
Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with good food, time with loved ones, and safe travels. Wishing you all a warm and joyful holiday.
November 27, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with good food, time with loved ones, and safe travels. Wishing you all a warm and joyful holiday.
Meet nature’s own trick-or-treater! The Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar wears one of nature’s best Halloween costumes—disguised as a tiny snake to scare off predators. Proof that the best tricks come from nature’s imagination.
Read more: mdc.mo.gov/magazines/co...
Read more: mdc.mo.gov/magazines/co...
October 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Meet nature’s own trick-or-treater! The Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar wears one of nature’s best Halloween costumes—disguised as a tiny snake to scare off predators. Proof that the best tricks come from nature’s imagination.
Read more: mdc.mo.gov/magazines/co...
Read more: mdc.mo.gov/magazines/co...
Last Friday, just before the rain clouds rolled in, I spotted a red-shouldered hawk perched on an old branch, glowing in warm morning light. Raptors rarely sit still for long, but this one was patient, giving me a few quiet minutes to capture its beautiful portrait.
October 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Last Friday, just before the rain clouds rolled in, I spotted a red-shouldered hawk perched on an old branch, glowing in warm morning light. Raptors rarely sit still for long, but this one was patient, giving me a few quiet minutes to capture its beautiful portrait.
I’m honored to have shared these experiences with so many passionate photographers who inspire me with their dedication and talent. All 2026 workshops are full, but I’m taking inquiries for 2027—email me at nop@npnaturephotography.com if you’d like to join! (298 characters)
October 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I’m honored to have shared these experiences with so many passionate photographers who inspire me with their dedication and talent. All 2026 workshops are full, but I’m taking inquiries for 2027—email me at nop@npnaturephotography.com if you’d like to join! (298 characters)
One of my greatest joys in photography is sharing the spark of seeing the world through a lens. A great photo is born in the decisive moment when light, subject, action, and emotion align. This prairie-chicken dance at dawn shows how patience and presence create powerful images.
October 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
One of my greatest joys in photography is sharing the spark of seeing the world through a lens. A great photo is born in the decisive moment when light, subject, action, and emotion align. This prairie-chicken dance at dawn shows how patience and presence create powerful images.
Always looking for fresh ways to see familiar things. Found this delicate Nodding Ladies’-tresses orchid on a glade hike. Shot it two ways—macro for details, wide-angle for its world. Two lenses, two stories. #macro #wildflower #naturephotography
October 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Always looking for fresh ways to see familiar things. Found this delicate Nodding Ladies’-tresses orchid on a glade hike. Shot it two ways—macro for details, wide-angle for its world. Two lenses, two stories. #macro #wildflower #naturephotography
I love the expression of this young raccoon, caught by surprise while foraging for acorns in a bur oak tree. Raccoons are clever and adaptable, using their nimble hands to open jars and latches. Their dark “mask” helps reduce glare and sharpen night vision as they prepare for winter.
September 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I love the expression of this young raccoon, caught by surprise while foraging for acorns in a bur oak tree. Raccoons are clever and adaptable, using their nimble hands to open jars and latches. Their dark “mask” helps reduce glare and sharpen night vision as they prepare for winter.
This monarch caterpillar on milkweed is one step closer to becoming the butterfly we all love. Milkweed is vital, feeding caterpillars and pollinators alike. I love using a wide-angle lens to show not just the subject, but the habitat it depends on. #MonarchButterfly #NativePlants #PollinatorPower
September 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
This monarch caterpillar on milkweed is one step closer to becoming the butterfly we all love. Milkweed is vital, feeding caterpillars and pollinators alike. I love using a wide-angle lens to show not just the subject, but the habitat it depends on. #MonarchButterfly #NativePlants #PollinatorPower
Yesterday evening in a neighborhood park, I observed a pair of mating monarch butterflies. After briefly landing on a flower, they flew to a sycamore tree, where I captured several images. Native plants not only enhance landscapes but also provide critical habitat for pollinators.
August 31, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Yesterday evening in a neighborhood park, I observed a pair of mating monarch butterflies. After briefly landing on a flower, they flew to a sycamore tree, where I captured several images. Native plants not only enhance landscapes but also provide critical habitat for pollinators.
Yesterday, while walking in my garden, I came across a pair of monarchs mating. With their numbers so low this year, it was a hopeful sight. I’m wishing this female will soon lay eggs and give the next generation a boost toward recovery.
August 27, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Yesterday, while walking in my garden, I came across a pair of monarchs mating. With their numbers so low this year, it was a hopeful sight. I’m wishing this female will soon lay eggs and give the next generation a boost toward recovery.
Check out the August Missouri Conservationist featuring one of my favorite images—an Eastern Hellbender. Missouri is home to two rare species, both of which are declining due to habitat loss. Learn more about this remarkable amphibian: mdc.mo.gov/%E2%80%A6/wr...
August 1, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Check out the August Missouri Conservationist featuring one of my favorite images—an Eastern Hellbender. Missouri is home to two rare species, both of which are declining due to habitat loss. Learn more about this remarkable amphibian: mdc.mo.gov/%E2%80%A6/wr...
A delicate moment in motion, this Snowberry Clearwing moth hovers to sip nectar from a blooming Skullcap (Scutellaria species). Nature’s smallest wonders are often the most mesmerizing.
July 31, 2025 at 3:55 PM
A delicate moment in motion, this Snowberry Clearwing moth hovers to sip nectar from a blooming Skullcap (Scutellaria species). Nature’s smallest wonders are often the most mesmerizing.
Happy Fourth of July!
I captured this magical firefly moment a few years ago—featured in my Missouri Conservationist article, “Twinkling of a Summer Night.” Light pollution & lawn chemicals threaten fireflies. Plant natives & mow less: tinyurl.com/firefly-mdc
I captured this magical firefly moment a few years ago—featured in my Missouri Conservationist article, “Twinkling of a Summer Night.” Light pollution & lawn chemicals threaten fireflies. Plant natives & mow less: tinyurl.com/firefly-mdc
July 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Happy Fourth of July!
I captured this magical firefly moment a few years ago—featured in my Missouri Conservationist article, “Twinkling of a Summer Night.” Light pollution & lawn chemicals threaten fireflies. Plant natives & mow less: tinyurl.com/firefly-mdc
I captured this magical firefly moment a few years ago—featured in my Missouri Conservationist article, “Twinkling of a Summer Night.” Light pollution & lawn chemicals threaten fireflies. Plant natives & mow less: tinyurl.com/firefly-mdc
Last night, my neighbor texted that a hawk was eating something big. I went to check and saw it guarding a dead hawk—the same one I had photographed earlier. Turns out, its sibling from the nest above had killed it. So much for a peaceful reunion… Nature can be brutal.
June 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Last night, my neighbor texted that a hawk was eating something big. I went to check and saw it guarding a dead hawk—the same one I had photographed earlier. Turns out, its sibling from the nest above had killed it. So much for a peaceful reunion… Nature can be brutal.
Just posted a short video from my January Thailand workshop—what an unforgettable trip! From Sarus Cranes to elephants, every day was incredible. I’m heading back in January 2026, and spots are filling fast! Watch here: youtu.be/frTgSrrp3zw
Message me with questions!
Message me with questions!
2025 Thailand Nature Photography Workshop
YouTube video by nopnature
youtu.be
June 6, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Just posted a short video from my January Thailand workshop—what an unforgettable trip! From Sarus Cranes to elephants, every day was incredible. I’m heading back in January 2026, and spots are filling fast! Watch here: youtu.be/frTgSrrp3zw
Message me with questions!
Message me with questions!
I love capturing birds in action, not just perched poses. In spring, males sing to attract mates and defend their territory. All of these images were taken without call-back recordings, which I avoid to prevent unnecessary stress on the birds. Just patience, a long lens, and quiet observation.
June 4, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I love capturing birds in action, not just perched poses. In spring, males sing to attract mates and defend their territory. All of these images were taken without call-back recordings, which I avoid to prevent unnecessary stress on the birds. Just patience, a long lens, and quiet observation.
Male Dickcissels fill the prairie with song each summer, defending territory and seeking a mate. Though they resemble sparrows, they’re more closely related to cardinals. Each fall, they migrate thousands of miles to the South America.
May 23, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Male Dickcissels fill the prairie with song each summer, defending territory and seeking a mate. Though they resemble sparrows, they’re more closely related to cardinals. Each fall, they migrate thousands of miles to the South America.
I’ve photographed this bird many times, yet I never tire of it. Its rich indigo plumage and calm nature make it a perfect subject. The shimmering feathers aren’t truly blue—they appear so due to light scattering off microscopic structures, a process called structural coloration.
May 20, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I’ve photographed this bird many times, yet I never tire of it. Its rich indigo plumage and calm nature make it a perfect subject. The shimmering feathers aren’t truly blue—they appear so due to light scattering off microscopic structures, a process called structural coloration.
Our lunatic dog bravely defends the park from a deadly mushroom… growing on a tree. No threat too small, no fungus too suspicious. 🤣
May 14, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Our lunatic dog bravely defends the park from a deadly mushroom… growing on a tree. No threat too small, no fungus too suspicious. 🤣
A Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) pauses to preen along a wetland edge. With nearly 360° vision, it stays alert even during quiet moments. #shorebirds #naturephotography #birdsphotography
May 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
A Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) pauses to preen along a wetland edge. With nearly 360° vision, it stays alert even during quiet moments. #shorebirds #naturephotography #birdsphotography
The Turkey Vulture may not win “prettiest bird,” but it plays a key role in nature. As a scavenger, it cleans up carrion, preventing disease spread. I’m especially drawn to the subtle beauty in its feathers, with fine details that are often overlooked.
May 9, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The Turkey Vulture may not win “prettiest bird,” but it plays a key role in nature. As a scavenger, it cleans up carrion, preventing disease spread. I’m especially drawn to the subtle beauty in its feathers, with fine details that are often overlooked.
The indigo bunting lights up Missouri’s summer fields with its dazzling blue plumage and bright, joyful song. Amazingly, these tiny songbirds navigate thousands of miles during migration using the stars! Perched atop stems or treetops, they sing as if purely for joy. #MissouriBirds
May 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The indigo bunting lights up Missouri’s summer fields with its dazzling blue plumage and bright, joyful song. Amazingly, these tiny songbirds navigate thousands of miles during migration using the stars! Perched atop stems or treetops, they sing as if purely for joy. #MissouriBirds
In Missouri’s spring woods, mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) spreads a lush green canopy, hiding delicate white flowers. Its name comes from the small, apple-like yellow fruit that appears after May blooms — an iconic part of Missouri’s native wildflower landscape!
May 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
In Missouri’s spring woods, mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) spreads a lush green canopy, hiding delicate white flowers. Its name comes from the small, apple-like yellow fruit that appears after May blooms — an iconic part of Missouri’s native wildflower landscape!