MEET THE ARTIST

An avid outdoorsman and self-taught pioneer in the field of landscape and wildlife photography, Zack Clothier has been photographing the natural world for the past two decades. In addition to capturing nature’s beauty through the lens, Zack is also an experienced naturalist and skilled animal tracker. Zack’s passion for photography started at a very young age, when he began documenting tracks and other sign left behind by the wild animals that frequented the neighborhood near his childhood home in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. This unquenchable thirst for nature is what led him to pursue a career path as a professional photographer.

This path has taken him to some of the most spectacular locations on the planet. Capturing Mother Nature in a unique and inspiring way is what he does best. His keen eye for light and composition allows him to capture the raw beauty he sees in the wild. His undeniable passion for nature allows him to turn this beauty into fine works of art. His award-winning photographs have appeared throughout the pages of some of the most distinguished publications, including National Geographic, and have been on display in numerous galleries and international exhibitions across the globe. In 2021, one of his photographs earned first place in the prestigious international Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. When he’s not photographing, Zack prefers to spend his free time hiking, animal tracking, fly fishing, backpacking, and exploring his backyard — the rugged and vast Montana wilderness that he calls “home”.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Thank you for taking the time to have a look at the natural world as I see it. Growing up in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, my love of nature and wildlife started at a very young age. I would set out into the forest in hopes of documenting the secret lives of wild animals through the help of their footprints. As I became more adept in tracking and reading sign, I also started bringing along a 35mm film camera to record what I found. As time went on, I found myself wanting more than just photographs of footprints in the sand and decided to use my skills to locate and photograph the animals that made the footprints. I soon discovered this was easier said than done. It wasn't until 2006, when I participated in a wildlife tracking expedition in Yellowstone National Park, that I realized my passion was calling my name and it was time to begin pursuing a career in nature photography. For years I dreamed of moving closer to an area rich in wildlife, and wilderness. The mountains of Montana were calling my name.

photo courtesy of Mark LaGrange

I have always been intrigued by the early explorers of these vast, untamed wilderness areas. It is the wilderness that brings me clarity and peace that cannot be found in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. My relationship with the land and the wild animals that live in these beautiful, but hostile, environments is what drives me to explore and capture these unique moments in time. For me, photography is more than just capturing images of the natural world with a camera, however. The simple act of just spending time connecting with nature is what I enjoy the most. It is the place that I go to find solitude, relieve stress, and re-energize my body and mind. Nature is the fuel for my soul, and it sparks my creativity like no other place can. The natural world paints the most beautiful pictures, I am just thankful to be able to capture these moments and share them with the world. My photographs are the result of many hours of patience and unwavering dedication on my part, and sometimes a little luck. Often times I am hiking, climbing, bushwhacking, or skiing into the backcountry to bring back something truly unique.

Photography has the potential to change our vision of the world. It can shine light on important topics, inspire you to travel, or even help you appreciate the little things in life that we so often times take for granted. The truth of the matter is that there are very few people in the world with a deep and passionate understanding of the natural world, and many more are simply disconnected from nature entirely. By sharing my photographs with the world, it is my hope to bridge this gap and help to form some sort of connection with the viewer, however small, in an effort to get them engaged in the subject matter. Whether it is a specific species of wildlife that the viewer never knew existed, or a beautiful landscape they had never seen until now. Whenever possible, I try to share my own personal stories and knowledge to further strengthen these ties and encourage others to go out and start forming their own connections with nature. It is not until we've formed our own connections do we start to see the bigger picture and really begin to care about conserving the natural world. Through my work I hope to raise awareness for the continued preservation and protection of these wild places so that future generations can enjoy all that they have to offer. We must never forget, wilderness is more than just a natural place; it is a place that we go to for inspiration.