Mary Vega Photographer
Artist Statement
I am a nature and documentary photographer based in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California. My focus is in black and white photography.
I’m an adventurer and photographer, in that order. I have hiked hundreds of miles over the years, some favorites being along the Colorado River, Death Valley National Park, Eastern Sierras, Desert Southwest, and my own backyard, the Foothills of Northern California. I have a fascination for petroglyphs/pictographs, and the storytellers that left them behind.
I adventure because there is no art more beautiful than what nature herself creates. I try to convey the impact of place and time in my work. Backpacking with my camera allows me to go into the wilderness experiencing the light and changing dynamics throughout the day with a sense of nowhere to be but with nature.
As a conservation minded photographer, I expect that my photos will inspire others to work together to protect the earth. Sometimes, the shot isn’t worth the footprints left behind, or the risk of going off-trail. We need allies in conservation who, without the photos, would never understand what it is that we’re protecting.
My inspiration is drawn from photographers of the past such as the greatness of Elliot Porter, Minor White, and Dorthea Lang just to mention a few. I also enjoy great authors such as W.L. Rusho, Craig Childs, David Roberts , and Norman Clyde to mention a few.
Biography
Mary has had a lifetime passion for photography starting in 4-H in the 6th grade. Her work focuses on capturing the beauty of nature throughout different seasons in various landscapes. With a special interest in the Eastern Sierras and the desert regions of the Southwest. She finds that spending time on the ground and hiking for days at a time creates an intimate relationship with nature, leading to stunning and unique shots of the wilderness.
Mary's work has been in various publications and on the walls of businesses and homes across the country. When She is not behind the lens, Mary enjoys spending time on her farm raising wool breed sheep, chickens and a sustainable garden for the family's cafe.
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