ROB MILLER
NATURE & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
Past Adventures
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2024 : Yukon, Alaska and Northwest Territories
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2023 : Mount Nimbus, British Columbia
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2022 : The Big Island of Hawaii
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Upcoming Adventures
2025 : Northwest Territories
2026 : Hawaii
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I'm also available for projects during my upcoming travels, where I can create compelling storylines paired with stunning photographs. Let’s connect and bring your ideas to life!
2024 : Yukon, Alaska and Northwest Territories
What an incredible introduction to the North, all thanks to my
friend Patti! At the beginning of 2024, she reached out and asked,
"Have you ever been to the Yukon?" I hadn’t—and that simple
question set the stage for an amazing year of adventure. I loved the
experience so much that I returned in September to explore more!
Here are some highlights:
Summer Solstice in Dawson City
Wow, what an unforgettable experience! Standing atop the Dome—
a famous viewpoint overlooking Dawson City and the surrounding
landscape—during the midnight hour, with the sun still shining in the sky, was absolutely incredible. The shimmering sunlight reflecting off the converging Klondike and Yukon rivers created a stunning scene, surrounded by breathtaking views of the vast wilderness.
The official sunset was at 12:51 a.m., and sunrise followed at 3:47 a.m.—just under three hours of twilight before the sun began its ascent again. It’s quite the phenomenon to experience so much daylight, but trust me, you’ll want to pack a sleep mask!
Pingos in Tuktoyaktuk
During my travels to Tuktoyaktuk in late September, I witnessed my first pingo! These fascinating land formations, unique to Arctic regions like the Northwest Territories, are dome-shaped mounds of earth-covered ice. Pingos form when groundwater beneath the surface freezes and expands, pushing the ground upward. Seeing these formations in person—and learning about them—was amazing!
Did you know: More than half of the world’s pingos are found in Canada, and Tuktoyaktuk is home to eight notable examples protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Historically, the Inuvialuit people relied on pingos for navigation and as vantage points for spotting wildlife during their hunts. Today, these remarkable structures are carefully preserved, and walking on them is no longer allowed due to their delicate nature. Beyond their cultural significance, pingos are studied for what they reveal about permafrost conditions and climate change, making them truly remarkable features of the Arctic landscape.
This is just the beginning of my Northern adventure. More stories are on the way, so stay tuned!
2023 : Mount Nimbus, British Columbia
About a decade ago, I watched an episode of the Rick Mercer Report featuring an epic via ferrata experience at Mount Nimbus. The breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain range, the opportunity to scale Mount Nimbus up close—and that suspension bridge, wow!—left a lasting impression. Ever since, Mount Nimbus had been at the top of my bucket list, and I finally had the chance to make it happen.
I booked my excursion for the Canada Day weekend—the ultimate celebration! Before setting out, our group reviewed the essentials of safety to ensure everyone was prepared and secure. Then, the big day began with an exhilarating helicopter ride. As the elevation increased and the vast mountain landscapes came into view, nervous excitement coursed through my body. Little did I know this rush of adrenaline was only the beginning.
The helicopter dropped off our expedition team and quickly disappeared, descending into the valley below. Our group assembled our gear and headed to the mountain face to hook into the via ferrata cable system. We received a safety refresher and began our climb. It was a gradual ascent to build the confidence, coordination, and communication amongst the group. Everyone was loving the experience, and after a few hours of climbing, we broke for lunch to refuel and recharge before tackling the next daunting section.
As we mobilized again, we all saw the peak of Mount Nimbus prominently before us—a straight-up vertical to the heavens. The challenges that lay ahead tested each of us in different ways as the mountain revealed our hidden trepidations. For me, there was something about the ascent that sent my heart racing. Every step and pull of my body felt surreal, as if I couldn’t believe I was truly there on this incredible mountain. The cable route to the peak hugged the edge, offering epic views of the valley below—a dizzying sight that prompted countless and sometimes unfiltered "OMG"s to tumble out of my mouth.
At one point on the climb to the peak, I was unable to find a proper foothold to boost myself up. The mountain guide behind me calmly suggested using a small notch in the cliffside. My immediate response was an emphatic, 'Ah, no,' as my mind flashed forward to an epic fall. Yet, the incredible power of mind and body in moments like these is undeniable. I refocused and powered myself to the top.
Reaching that first peak of Mount Nimbus was unlike anything I’d imagined. Sitting there felt like I was on the world's largest saddle—one leg pointed down toward the path I’d just climbed, and the other toward the next challenge: crossing the suspension bridge.
There’s only one way to the summit of Mount Nimbus, and that is to cross the 200-ft open-air suspension bridge. I had no answers for how I would react once I was face-to-face with this iconic landmark, 2,000ft above the valley. The views were insane. Standing there, I tried to process everything while waiting for my turn to cross. To my surprise, I was unbelievably calm in this moment and relished every step on the plank boards, knowing I was making this dream happen. One by one, each team member completed the crossing to an inspiring round of encouragement and applause. It was awesome! We had all come here for the same thing and we accomplished it together.
There was still the summit of Mount Nimbus to scale after the suspension bridge. We rejoiced at the peak, then belayed down the backside of Nimbus and out to the open plain, where the helicopter retrieved us. This was an unforgettable journey that left us buzzing with stories of delight and fright to share for the rest of our lives. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone in this way was truly transformative. I am so grateful I trusted in myself to take on this challenge, even with my healthy respect for heights. You never really know what you're capable of until you try. Keep setting new heights and goals—you might just surprise yourself.
2022 : The Big Island of Hawaii
On November 26, I took a tour to the Mauna Kea Observatory to enjoy the breathtaking sunset views. It was stunning up there; the sun and clouds stretched to infinity, with Mauna Loa, Hawaii's massive shield volcano lying dormant in the vast landscape.
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Then, on November 27, at approximately 11:30 PM HST, Mauna Loa erupted in a spectacular awakening after a 38-year slumber (What a difference a day makes!)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
After spending the night in Kona, I awoke to an emergency text alert on my phone about the eruption. It was both exciting and unnerving to be on the island at this time. Fortunately, the lava flow was heading away from the residential areas, but it raised concerns as it advanced toward Saddle Road which connects the east and west sides of the island. I wondered what it would be like driving along Saddle Road to see the lava from the roadside.​
News reports sounded cautiously optimistic, however, it remained uncertain whether or not the lava flow would reach Saddle Road. With no experience of volcanic eruptions, I trusted the experts and my instincts and ventured out on November 28. Plumes of smoke and clouds in the distance marked the direction of Mauna Loa—no GPS needed. ​The weather shifted between cloudy, windy, and rainy conditions. When I reached the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, I hoped to spot the red glow of the eruption, but the landscape revealed nothing.
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Across from the visitor center, a celebration was taking place on the hillside to commemorate Hawaiian Independence Day. The eruption of Mauna Loa on this special day felt symbolic, as if the island itself was honoring the occasion. For many locals, Mauna Loa’s eruption wasn’t just a geological event—it was a profound reminder of the powerful forces shaping these islands and their deep cultural connection to the land and its stories.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Later that evening, the glow from the eruption was visible from miles away. The first glimpse of the streams of lava from the roadside was mesmerizing. Even though the lava was approximately 10 miles away, it felt so close and overwhelmingly powerful. The radiant reds, along with the layers of clouds and smoke, left me in awe of how truly incredible nature is on our planet.
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As I stepped out of my vehicle to explore various vantage points for photos, I couldn’t help but notice the irony of feeling an extreme chill in the air, despite being confronted by the hottest substance on Earth. The photos may convey a surge of heat, but at 6,500 feet above sea level, you will definitely want to bundle up.
2022 : Lillooet, British Columbia
This was my second full year living in beautiful British Columbia, and I was loving it. The scenery was gorgeous, and I loved that snow in the winter was mostly optional—viewed from afar while traveling the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Soon enough, spring arrived, and the cherry blossoms lined the streets and parks around Vancouver. The cool temperatures in the serene forests made for ideal hiking conditions and exploring the abundance of mountains trails was on my adventure list.
Spring had sprung, and summer took over, bringing another heat dome and devastating forest fires to the area. I didn’t have air conditioning in my apartment, so the coolest place for me was my vehicle. I chose to avoid the thousands of Vancouverites flocking to local beaches and waterparks and decided to travel the Lillooet Loop, taking note of places I wanted to explore further. I had almost arrived in Lillooet and was enjoying the mountain views when, suddenly, nature pulled back the veil of devastation appearing in front of me. It was unbelievable! I was in awe of what I was seeing.
I pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road to get out and capture some photographs of this surreal landscape. My mind was trying to process what I was seeing and then the smoke took over my senses. The lovely, faint campfire smell in the air quickly turned disconcerting as it began to tingle my eyes, nose, and throat. I jumped back into my vehicle and continued toward Lillooet, fully expecting emergency services to have shut down the highway. To my surprise, no one was there.
The air buzzed with activity as helicopters supported BC Wildfire Services, scooping water from the Lillooet River with their helibuckets. As the helicopter rose into the smoky sky to steady its load, the blazing sun dared to penetrate the smoke and ash, highlighting the immense challenge fire crews faced against the oppressive heat and dry conditions. The helicopter raced off to battle the blaze as a steady stream of vehicles began to drive away from Lillooet and down the highway.
I felt an overwhelming unease, which must have been tenfold for the people of Lillooet. The looming forest fire encroached upon their town, likely stirring memories of the devastating Lytton fire the year before. Although no structures were lost, the fire’s proximity to homes and recreation sites forced evacuation orders and warnings to be issued. Fire crews worked tirelessly, focusing their efforts on the lower elevations, where they managed to hold the fire back and prevent it from spreading further. Those burnt-orange, smoke-filled skies and the devastation of nature will forever be etched in my memory, along with the heartache and strain endured by the people and wildlife affected.
