What you see at Las Vegas Natural History Museum’s new photography exhibit are close-up shots of elegant owls, lively hummingbirds and stoic bears. What you don’t see are what local photographer Andrew Feiler overcame to share nature’s beauty with the rest of us.
Naturally Nevada and The Wild World, on display through March 31, are Feiler’s first public exhibits. The former showcases hummingbirds in the Valley of Fire, big horn sheep in Boulder City, great horned owls in Summerlin, burrowing owls in North Las Vegas and more; the latter includes bears from Alaska, the Japanese macaque and the bristlecone pine.
Feiler has traveled all over the U.S., to Canada and Japan, and will embark on a two-week, African safari in November. While home, he enjoys shooting nightscapes, moon rises, rock structures and his favorite subject—owls. There’s a nest behind his Summerlin home to which he’s been returning since last spring.
That type of dedication makes his photography possible. While shooting in Canada the past few weeks, some of his days were spent in freezing snow from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m., others attempting to brave 44-mph winds, his 15-pound tripod blowing down the street, often with no resulting photographs.
“Sitting around takes a lot of patience; I don’t enjoy it. But once you know what it feels like to get that shot, you just do it. Some people like to go skydiving or ride motorcycles, but for me, this is my adrenaline rush,” Feiler says.
Although the New York native’s career path has taken him in several directions, from working with Hollywood producer/director Brett Ratner (The Revenant, Horrible Bosses) to serving as assistant producer for several boxing shows on ESPN Classic, the lens has remained his passion.
“For the last week, I’ve woken up every day at 5 in the morning to be out there for sunrise, and it didn’t bother me at all. I was excited to pop out of bed and find owls,” he says. “It’s exhilarating to be rewarded with something so amazing, beautiful and elegant. That’s what keeps me coming back.”
View more of Feiler’s work at andrewfeilerstudio.com.
Naturally Nevada & The Wild World Through March 31; daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; $5-$10. Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 702-384-3466.
