We first met our Photographer of the Month, Dare'l McMillian, at a Western Michigan University press event for Phantom of the Opera.

Just wait until you see the photos from our featured photographer this month, Scott Drummond. They are incredibly beautiful, and truly capture the essence of this extraordinary landscape.

View from Dynjandi - Wild Westfjords 4 Day Tour 

What Do You Know About America’s National Parks?

They Are Our Greatest Natural Treasures

What is a petrified forest? They look like trees, but when you touch them they're cold. Transformed by minerals in sediment, volcanic ash, and groundwater, the trees have become fossilized. No longer wood, these trees tell the story of the climate and ecosystem millions of years ago.

I can still vaguely remember a few class trips from primary school in New York. I have sketchy images of a visit to Fire Island’s barrier beach, a stop at the national historic site of Sagamore Hill, and a cool trip to a rock museum. I remember being able to touch geodes, collect water samples, and visit historical spots. But mostly, I recall standing outside, being a part of nature and connecting with the land. It’s weird that those memories are still visible and still felt all those years later.

I've never seen anything like it - and am so grateful to the internet for the discovery! When first seeing our Artist of the Month, Dan Miller's art, I was stunned. Every time I see something by him in my feed, I am happy, pause, reflect, breathe. He has an unusually calm and detailed way of sharing the natural world with viewers - one for which I am grateful. His medium? Colored pencils!