Nature nominee

The Tongass National Forest is an enchanted and wonderful place filled with dense forest canopy and wondrous scenic locations. On the day of the shot it was an overcast day, and it was slightly raining. The waterfall's incoming spray made it difficult to obtain this long exposure; however, I resolved the problem by moving to several locations. As twilight approached the mood of the forest grew darker, and I was able to capture the menacing emotions emanating from the approaching nightfall.

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.