The Artist
An avid outdoorsman and self-taught pioneer in landscape and wildlife photography, Zack Clothier has spent more than two decades documenting the natural world. As a Montana photographer, he draws daily inspiration from the vast, untamed landscapes of the American West. Beyond the lens, he is an accomplished naturalist and skilled animal tracker, bringing fieldcraft and deep ecological knowledge to his work.
Zack’s passion for photography began at a young age as he documented tracks and other signs left behind by the wild animals that roamed near his childhood home in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. That early fascination with the language of the wild evolved into a lifelong pursuit—and ultimately, a professional career behind the camera.
His journey has taken him to some of the most spectacular and remote landscapes on Earth. Known for his distinctive vision and refined eye for light and composition, Zack creates imagery that captures the raw, untamed beauty of nature as well as rare, intimate moments in the wild, in a way that is both powerful and deeply evocative. His work transforms fleeting wilderness moments into timeless fine art.
Zack’s award-winning photographs have appeared in the pages of many distinguished publications, including National Geographic, and have been exhibited in galleries and international exhibitions around the world. In 2021, one of his images earned first place in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
When he isn’t in the field with a camera, Zack can be found hiking with his wife and their two huskies, tracking wildlife, fly fishing, backpacking, and exploring the rugged Montana wilderness he calls home.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Thank you for taking the time to experience the natural world as I see it.
I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, where my connection to nature and wildlife began at a young age. I spent countless hours wandering the forest, learning to read the stories written in tracks and sign, hoping to understand the hidden lives of wild animals. As my skills in tracking developed, I began carrying a 35mm film camera to document what I found.
Over time, documenting footprints was no longer enough. I wanted to find, and photograph, the animals themselves. What began as curiosity quickly became a pursuit that demanded patience, persistence, and a deeper understanding of the natural world. In 2006, while participating in a wildlife tracking expedition in Yellowstone National Park, that pursuit became something more. It was there I realized this was not simply an interest, but a calling—to dedicate myself to nature photography.
For years, I felt drawn west toward landscapes rich in wildlife and wilderness. Eventually, that pull led me to Montana. I have long been inspired by the early explorers of these vast, untamed places. Wilderness offers a clarity and sense of peace that cannot be found in the pace of modern life. My connection to the land and to the animals that endure within these often harsh environments is what drives me to explore and to create.
Photography, for me, extends far beyond the act of making an image. It is rooted in the experience itself—time spent in solitude, moving through wild places, observing, waiting, and learning. It is where I go to reset, to find focus, and to reconnect. Nature fuels both my perspective and my creativity. The landscape creates the moment; I am simply there to recognize and preserve it.
Each photograph is the result of time, effort, and intention on my part—often requiring long days of hiking, climbing, skiing, or navigating remote terrain in search of something rare and meaningful. These moments are never guaranteed. They are earned through patience, persistence, and, at times, a measure of luck.
I believe that photography has the power to shape how we see the world. It can inspire curiosity, deepen appreciation, and bring awareness to places and species that might otherwise go unnoticed. In an increasingly modern world, many have grown disconnected from the natural world. Through my work, I hope to bridge that gap and create a connection between the viewer and the subject, however subtle it may be.
Whether it’s a species someone has never encountered, or a landscape they’ve never experienced, these photographs are an invitation to look closer, to feel something, and perhaps to seek that connection firsthand. Whenever possible, I share the stories behind these moments to deepen that relationship and encourage others to form their own connection with the wild. Because it is through that connection that appreciation grows, and with it, the desire to protect what remains.
Through my work, I hope to contribute in some small way to the preservation of these landscapes and the wildlife that depend on them. Wilderness is more than a place—it is a source of inspiration, perspective, and renewal. It is something worth experiencing, and ultimately, worth protecting.