SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Scottsdale photographer Mark Koster is getting international recognition for his Arizona wildlife photography. Koster is known for his vibrant and detailed oriented photos of animals ranging from ducks to osprey and even bald eagles. “I like to shoot fairly tight and try to get the characteristics and the looks in on the birds, coyotes and bobcat’s faces,” Koster said.

Most of Koster’s photos are taken right in his backyard at Chaparral Park in Scottsdale. “I get to see the beauty of nature all a mile or two away from home,” Koster said. Every day, he heads to the park and spends hours just watching and waiting. “My eyes are always moving. So, if I’m not seeing one type of bird or an animal, I’m looking for something else,” Koster said.

Koster spent most of his career working as a television news director in Iowa, and he’s always loved photography. But his passion for wildlife started a few years ago. “I’ve dabbled in photography most my life. I had a little polaroid. But then I got into it very intensely in 2016 when I had two bald eagles land outside our condo door,” Koster said.

So far, Koster’s photos have been featured by Arizona Game and Fish, Smithsonian Magazine, the Daily Mail and much more. But he says it’s more than just getting the photo. He gets to study and connect with these amazing creatures. ” You get to know them. It’s like part of family,” Koster said.

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