Abstract nominee

I made this image in Alaska near the Mendenhall Glacier. It was getting late and the light temperature was dropping. I composed several frames in order to obtain the exposure I was envisioning for the ice crystals in the piece. As I looked at them through the viewfinder, I saw and felt complete harmony, balance, and stillness in the empty space. To me, it represented the fragility and aesthetic found in the natural elements that surround us and which are often overlooked.

Mark Rivera is a young, passionate nature and wildlife photographer specializing in vast scenic landscapes. He is a frequent participant in national and international photography contests, and, despite his young age, his work has already been recognized by several prestigious organizations, including the Audubon Society, Nature’s Best Photography, and USA Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards where he recently won the 2016 USA Landscape Photographer of the Year (Youth Category, Classic View). Another important element found throughout Mark’s work is his evident passion for conservation, inspired by the Japanese ancient tradition that all life is sacred and must be protected. His work, therefore, is prescient in a world where nature is vanishing at an alarming rate and species are racing extinction. By bringing attention to Mother Nature with his inspiring, artistic photography, Mark is on a mission to showcase the beauty of this planet so that people not only see but feel their interconnectedness to nature.