Ty Smedes Nature Photography

2025/2026 Presentation Schedule


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I typically have several presentations scheduled, and here are the details. Some of these are open to the public and some are not.

2025/2026 Presentation Schedule
Date & Time
Topic
Description
Location
January 6th - 11:00am Loon Magic - The Life Cycle of the Common Loon As an icon of the north-country, the Loon has created magic for all who have enjoyed his antics and that magical “call of the wild”. Polk City Iowa writer/photographer Ty Smedes will lecture about the life history of the Loon, and will share many stunning images. Ty has made many trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, where he has captured iconic images of a female loon, on the nest, with youngsters riding on her back, and even the male feeding the young, as they rest there. Ty will share many anecdotes and will show how a nature photographer pre-visualizes and plans a wilderness photography trip. Join us for an exciting and educational presentation! Polk Co Nature Center Nature - Jester Park
January 14th - 9:30am Loon Magic - The Life Cycle of the Common Loon As an icon of the north-country, the Loon has created magic for all who have enjoyed his antics and that magical “call of the wild”. Polk City Iowa writer/photographer Ty Smedes will lecture about the life history of the Loon, and will share many stunning images. Ty has made many trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, where he has captured iconic images of a female loon, on the nest, with youngsters riding on her back, and even the male feeding the young, as they rest there. Ty will share many anecdotes and will show how a nature photographer pre-visualizes and plans a wilderness photography trip. Join us for an exciting and educational presentation! Lime Creek Nature Center - Mason City - Cerro Gordo Co. - Conservation Coffee Club
January 20th - 7:00pm Loon Magic - The Life Cycle of the Common Loon As an icon of the north-country, the Loon has created magic for all who have enjoyed his antics and that magical “call of the wild”. Polk City Iowa writer/photographer Ty Smedes will lecture about the life history of the Loon, and will share many stunning images. Ty has made many trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, where he has captured iconic images of a female loon, on the nest, with youngsters riding on her back, and even the male feeding the young, as they rest there. Ty will share many anecdotes and will show how a nature photographer pre-visualizes and plans a wilderness photography trip. Join us for an exciting and educational presentation! Franklin Avenue Senior Center, Des Moines - Des Moines Audubon
February 18th - 11:30am Voyage to the Bottom of the World In December of 2014, Ty Smedes spent almost a month exploring the southern reaches of the globe on the Expedition ship Ortelius. The first stop was the Falkland Islands, the site of the largest Black-browed Albatross colony in the world, numbering 220,000 breeding pairs. In addition, Rockhopper Penguin pairs were breeding in various places among the albatross. Next stop was South Georgia Island, the diamond in the Southern Ocean's crown jewels of Sub-Antarctic islands, a spectacular glaciated landscape home to some of the greatest wildlife densities found anywhere on earth. Ty will take us ashore to visit the huge Fur Seal Colonies and to witness the titanic struggle between bull Elephant Seals, each battling to become beach-master. We will visit King Penguin colonies numbering 335,000 pairs or more. We’ll see and hear their struggles to survive in a challenging climate, where some of the roughest seas in the world meet. This island, just 100 miles long and with 100 million birds, is the most wildlife-rich island on the planet! Along the Antarctic Peninsula, we will visit dazzling blue icebergs in shapes that defy the imagination. This stunning landscape hosts several penguin species and the leopard seals that hunt them - framed by a backdrop of endless glaciers and spectacular mountain scenics. Join us for this educational and visually stunning presentation about this beautiful and wildlife-rich part of the world. Grimes Nature Center - Marshall County OWLS
March 12th - TBD Voyage to the Bottom of the World In December of 2014, Ty Smedes spent almost a month exploring the southern reaches of the globe on the Expedition ship Ortelius. The first stop was the Falkland Islands, the site of the largest Black-browed Albatross colony in the world, numbering 220,000 breeding pairs. In addition, Rockhopper Penguin pairs were breeding in various places among the albatross. Next stop was South Georgia Island, the diamond in the Southern Ocean's crown jewels of Sub-Antarctic islands, a spectacular glaciated landscape home to some of the greatest wildlife densities found anywhere on earth. Ty will take us ashore to visit the huge Fur Seal Colonies and to witness the titanic struggle between bull Elephant Seals, each battling to become beach-master. We will visit King Penguin colonies numbering 335,000 pairs or more. We’ll see and hear their struggles to survive in a challenging climate, where some of the roughest seas in the world meet. This island, just 100 miles long and with 100 million birds, is the most wildlife-rich island on the planet! Along the Antarctic Peninsula, we will visit dazzling blue icebergs in shapes that defy the imagination. This stunning landscape hosts several penguin species and the leopard seals that hunt them - framed by a backdrop of endless glaciers and spectacular mountain scenics. Join us for this educational and visually stunning presentation about this beautiful and wildlife-rich part of the world. EB Lyons Nature Center - Dubuque - Dubuque Audubon
September 17th - 7:00pm Loon Magic - The Life Cycle of the Common Loon As an icon of the north-country, the Loon has created magic for all who have enjoyed his antics and that magical “call of the wild”. Polk City Iowa writer/photographer Ty Smedes will lecture about the life history of the Loon, and will share many stunning images. Ty has made many trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, where he has captured iconic images of a female loon, on the nest, with youngsters riding on her back, and even the male feeding the young, as they rest there. Ty will share many anecdotes and will show how a nature photographer pre-visualizes and plans a wilderness photography trip. Join us for an exciting and educational presentation! Ames Public Library - Big Bluestem Audubon

 

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All photos © Copyright Ty Smedes-Urbandale, IA. No part of this website may be copied, published or placed on any other website. All images are rights-protected and watermarked for internet tracking purposes. For inqueries: Phone 515-270-9086, email: ty.smedes@smedesphoto.com