We are fortunate to have a host of talented creative professionals who donate their images and videos of the sights, tranquility, and power of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. Meet the photographers and videographers who help us bring Washington’s national parks to you:
“Sitting around a campfire, gazing at the stars from beneath towering evergreens in the National Parks, were some of my most vivid childhood memories. These moments set the tone to a life dedicated to global adventure travel, and storytelling. For as long as I can remember, the parks have shaped my journey and facilitated my personal evolution. Protecting them could not be more important to my legacy, and I’m honored to be a part of their preservation.”
Lindsey Ganahl is an adventure photographer who specializes in outdoor events, lifestyle, and adventure elopements. She is a proud Pacific Northwest native and grew up hiking, camping, and backpacking in Washington’s national parks. A pioneer member of the “Nature First” photography alliance, Lindsey is committed to minimizing the impact of photography on public lands. When she’s not shooting for her many corporate and personal clients, Lindsey can be found sailing, skiing, rock climbing, or attempting “Turns All Year” in a tutu on Washington’s volcanoes. You can see more of Lindsey’s work at LindseyAllison.com and GirlintheWild.com, or on Instagram: @LindseyAllisonPhoto and @GirlintheWildPhoto.
“The stunning beauty of the Olympic National Park is where I first cultivated my love of the Pacific Northwest. The contrast of lush green forests, snowy high mountain alpine areas, and the coastline with its epic sea stacks was overwhelming and intoxicating; I had never experienced such a variety of beautiful terrain in one location and I was hooked, especially to the mountainous peaks which seemed to just go on and on endlessly into the interior of the peninsula. The Olympic peninsula is unique, special, and deserves the best stewardship and protection we can provide.“
Nate is a part-time alpine adventure photographer based out of Seattle, Washington. He takes photos which showcase the beauty of alpine environments and the people who love to recreate in it. He is currently working on the Olympic Mountain Project, which seeks to climb 30 unique peaks in the Olympic mountains. This project aims to tell a story of that unique range while showing some of the least seen parts of the interior of the Olympic National Park. As a 13-year Army combat veteran, he also helps get other veterans outside to show them the benefits that nature can provide for their mental and physical health. Learn more about Nate Brown Alpine Adventure Photography on Instagram (@NateBBrown) and Facebook.
“Because I have a deep love for the natural world, I believe in the legacy mission of the National Park Service. WNPF’s unique support enables programs and science that would otherwise not happen in Washington’s National Parks.“
John is a nature, travel and environmental photographer living in the Seattle, Washington area. His energies are devoted to National Parks, including serving as a Volunteer Photographer for the National Park Service, and he takes travel scenics, mountain aerials, winter views, wilderness areas and photojournalism for environmental causes. His work has been recognized in juried exhibitions and has been widely published. You can see more of his work at JohnChaoPhoto.photoshelter.com. Photo courtesy of C. Jacobsen Photography.
“As a Seattle kid, my morning commute to school had views of the Cascades, Olympics, and Mount Rainier all at once (thank you, ship canal bridge), so my appreciation for our protected spaces was instilled at a young age. The rugged and jaw-dropping North Cascades have become my favorite place in the world and continually exceed my expectations year after year. Whether it’s the scale and remoteness of our parks or the immense variety of ecosystems, I can confidently say I will never tire of these wild places.“
Seattle born and raised, Nick Danielson spends much of his time running and skiing in his home mountains of the Cascade range, documenting outdoor athletes and wilderness locations with his camera. With a background in photojournalism and visual design, Nick is always pursuing visually engaging stories in his content and works full-time as a freelance photographer, filmmaker, and designer. You can find Nick’s work on his website, nickdanielson.com, and on Instagram.
“I feel the most serene and whole when unplugged and immersed in nature. National Parks provide a unique and unparalleled experience to connect us with the outdoors and each other. We must continuously strive to protect, conserve and respect these lands.“
Michael is an outdoor enthusiast and found his true passion when combining photography with other adventure activities, including mountaineering, skiing and trail running. Having grown up on the east coast, he was infatuated with the Pacific Northwest after his first trip to the region to climb Mount Rainier and experience the beauty of Washington’s National Parks. Through photography, Michael aims to provide unique landscape perspectives and inspire others to safely and responsibly explore the outdoors, pushing comfort zones to supporting perpetual growth. You can find his work on Instagram (@_mfreed_).
“Heavily influenced by the beat writers and poets of the 1950’s I first heard of the North Cascades from the book The Dharma Bums. Little did I know that years later I too would be staffing a lookout in North Cascades just like my literary idols. To me, national parks have always been a place of adventure and a place where I feel most creative. Today my view of national parks is far different from when I started exploring them. The more I learn about the history of the parks and the Indigenous people who call these places home has completely changed my view of what “wilderness” is. But this only further inspires me to educate park visitors to understand, respect, and enjoy these public lands.”
Corey Green is an outdoor photographer splitting his time between Bend, Oregon and Glacier, Washington where he serves as a Wilderness Ranger in North Cascades National Park. Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, he did not step into the mountains until college. Making up for lost time, Corey has now worked in a number of national parks including Yellowstone, Glacier, Sequoia, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks. Corey has also worked at Vail and Mammoth Mountain Ski Areas. Through his photographs, Corey hopes to showcase the natural beauty of these wild and endangered places. You can find his work at greenpeakphotography.com or on his Instagram (@GreenPeakPhotography).
“Little did I know the extent to which Washington’s outdoor scene would transform my life. What started as a single short hike to an alpine lake in the mountains turned into routine weekend outings into the Cascades and my passion for photography equally grew. I fell in love with capturing the area’s rugged and pristine beauty and sharing it with the world.”
Scott Kranz is full-time commercial and editorial photographer and storyteller, with a focus on outdoor sports, lifestyle, landscape and travel photography. With a fiery passion for the mountains and all things outdoors, he specializes in capturing authentic moments while surrounded by the most wild, rugged and pristine beauty of North America and beyond. Find Scott Kranz Photography at Scott-Kranz.com or on Instagram (@scott_kranz).
“We were both born and raised here in Washington and are irrevocably in awe of our mountains, forests, lakes and rivers. As adventure elopement and family photographers, we place a huge emphasis with our clients on the Leave No Trace principles. Keeping our national parks pristine and wild is imperative so we can continue having the privilege to explore these incredible places. It’s truly a gift to live in Washington and we want to contribute in any way we can to conserve the magic of our national parks!”
Coleman Crawford and Vannessa Kralovic are a two-person adventure photography team, born and raised right here in the Pacific Northwest. They have been capturing the unique and special moments in peoples’ lives since 2011. As Leave No Trace aware photographers, they care deeply about preserving our national parks for all to enjoy. When not taking photography clients on adventures, they can be found exploring incredible locations around the country and snacking on their favorite trail treat, pepperoni. You can find Coleman and Vanessa’s work at thecrawfordsphotography.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
“Since childhood, America’s national parks have been fantastic, accessible, affordable places to discover many of the most beautiful, pristine, and transformative places on the planet, and they sparked my love of the outdoors from an early age. When I took a spontaneous trip to Washington’s North Cascades National Park as a young adult, I immediately fell in love and moved to the Pacific Northwest a few years later. After a decade here, I feel deeply privileged to promote, protect, and advocate for these unique and unparalleled parks in whatever capacity I can.“
Nick Lake is a commercial photographer and videographer who travels the world telling stories of wild places and the people who inhabit and visit them through still images, short films, and the written word. He has worked with many brands and organizations in dozens of states, provinces, and countries to inspire thousands of people to experience and protect our wildest places and to embrace an active, outdoor lifestyle. Check out more of his work on his website and Instagram.
“We are lucky to have three amazing national parks in Washington, all of which are largely protected as wilderness. To me, our backyard wilderness areas aren’t just a place to go to take photos, but they are also my escape to refresh my spirit. We need these wild places to feed our spirits and stay connected to who we are.“
Combining a passion for all things outdoors with a unique creative eye, Stephen creates images for the world’s leading magazines and outdoor gear manufacturers. He developed his vision as a natural landscape photographer and now applies that creative vision to active outdoor and lifestyle images. Stephen spends a large part of his time capturing the beauty of Washington’s largest National Parks, which renew his creativity and passion for photography every time he visits them. See more of his work at StephenMatera.com.
“My lifelong love for nature started at an early age. Most weekends of my childhood were spent at our family cabins in North Bend and Vashon Island. The national parks here have always been a big part of my life and I’m honored to give back in any way I can.“
Dene’ Miles is a full time nature and wildlife photographer based in Seattle. As a Seattle native, Dene’ developed a love for nature early in life. Her hope is that her photography will inspire others to get out to appreciate and protect this beautiful planet of ours. See more of her work on Instagram (@denemiles).
“The more I started to visit national parks, the more I fall in love with each park and the system as a whole. Trips to parks like the Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains during school exponentially changed my life course, one filled with parks! From visit one in the Everglades, to finding a home surrounded by the Cascade range, these parks change me with every adventure. It was only a dream to explore these areas and now I have the pleasure of working in, around, and for national parks. There becomes a blossom through these experiences and they become a part of us. It’s why I feel so strongly about preserving our public lands. We must support the parks because of everything they have done for us.“
Jayson Moorman travels all over the Pacific Northwest as a creator and adventure guide! Though he grew up in Florida, his education finally gave him an opportunity to explore the Appalachian Mountains and he was hooked. He has spent his first 3 years post-grad working in and around national parks. Capturing media of people, wildlife, and the natural spaces that make him whole. Photography started as a journal for these adventures and this passion translated into a career. Culminating passions for nature, conservation, and equal representation in outdoor industries drive the path to a future that our parks to set a precedent for overall sustainability. You can find more of Jayson’s work at https://www.explore-moor.com or on Instagram (@explore_moor).
“There has only been one moment in my life that I found myself truly speechless…when I saw Mount Rainier National Park for the first time. This area exudes grace, strength, and relentless beauty. It was also then that I knew I needed to move to Washington. Little did I know how much I would grow to become completely obsessed with its outdoors.“
Taylor Newlun is a Colorado native turned proud Washington transplant. With a degree in environmental science/geography, she hopes to combine her educational background, passion for landscape photography, and love for spiritual growth into a powerful avenue that promotes the importance of our natural world through visual and written stories. You can find Taylor’s work at www.taylornewlun.com or on Instagram (@taylor.newlun).
“Without preserving these beautiful places themselves, all of my gear and cameras and everything else I’d invested in would be worthless. I looked at how much I love these places where I spend all of my spare time in and decided it was time to give back where it counts.“
Mitch Pittman moved to Seattle from North Carolina in 2013 for a job with KOMO, but made the decision two years earlier when he first saw Mount Rainier from the window of a plane. Through a chance encounter at the Paradise Inn, Mitch got connected with Washington’s National Park Fund in 2015 and went on to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. Through his work, he hopes to instill a sense of appreciation and responsibility in the next generation of park stewards to protect these national treasures like those who came before us. When he’s not exploring the Cascades, Mitch travels the world capturing moments for clients in his day job as a freelance storyteller while trying to keep his streak alive of skiing every month. See more of his work at MitchPittman.com or on Instagram.
“I have always felt that a great part of taking beautiful pictures is going to cool places! The planning, the trip itself, being there in the outdoors, that’s the best part. Being able to capture some part of the look and feel of the place is an extra bonus. It helps to keep the memory alive and makes it possible to communicate some small part of what it was like to others.“
Growing up in the Northeast, Andy Porter felt a subtle, nagging force pulling him westward. He knew that his future was somewhere on the Pacific coast. After many hiking and backpacking trips in the West, he finally decided to settle down in the Seattle area in 1980. Photography has always been bound with outdoor adventure for Andy. He never had an interest in taking pictures until he started to go backpacking. Andy now lives in the Skagit Valley. See more of his work on AndyPorterImages.com.
“To say Washington, and more specifically the national parks and public lands within, changed my life is just about the biggest understatement I can say. I love this place with every fiber of my being. I am beyond thankful for the places I have been able to discover, the things I have been able to experience, and the people who have guided and joined me along the way. We don’t have to do this outdoor stuff, we get to. And how incredibly lucky are we that we get to do it here!?“
Baltimore-born and raised, Scott Schopman moved to the Pacific Northwest with his wife Lisa, dog Halley, a camera, and a complete ignorance of the wonderland that was awaiting them. Once settled in Seattle, they quickly began heading for the hills to begin experiencing the places they saw on Instagram prior to their move. It didn’t take long for Scott to realize that the mountains were where he belonged even if he hadn’t a clue what to do in them. Scott and Lisa soon joined The Mountaineers and were fortunate to be a part of the Basic Alpine Climbing Course where they gained an invaluable amount of knowledge, skills, and experience to take them even further into the mountains. Countless adventures and dollars at REI later and you can now find Scott (and Lisa, Halley, and young pup Tahoma) hiking, skiing, climbing, camping, overlanding, and photographing up and down the Northwest, with home now on the Hood Canal in the shadow of the Olympics. You can follow along in his adventures as well as reach out to Scott at www.scottychop.com or on Instagram at @scotty.chop.
“Out of all the states I’ve had the chance to photograph in, Washington has always been one of my favorites. It goes without saying that the national parks here are in a league of their own. I want to fight for the outdoor spaces that bring so much joy into the lives of people looking for an escape, adventure, or just a chance to be amongst something bigger than the everyday.“
Sheena Shahangian is an elopement photographer who helps couples bring their dream adventure weddings and mountain elopements to life in the outdoors places that mean the most to them. When she’s not photographing adventure elopements, you can find her getting out on the trails with her husband and dog, exploring dirt roads and winding mountain passes, and hanging out at her favorite hot springs. She loves supporting the national parks and has hopes to visit every single on in the US. You can find Sheena Shagangian Photography LLC at SheenaShangian.com or on Instagram (@sheenashahangianphoto).
“I grew up squeezing every drop of adventure out of the woods and rivers of North Texas. When I first came to Washington, I visited all three National Parks within the first week and became completely enamored. The parks are not only a canvas and a playground for me, but a place to learn and share the importance of conservation of our resources and wilderness and set an example for the world.“
Parker Tikson is an adventure and outdoor lifestyle photographer based out of Seattle, WA. He spends his free time exploring the Pacific Northwest from sea to summits on bikes, boards, and boots. Through his work, Parker seeks to demonstrate our ability to coexist with our natural environment with minimal impact and no compromise on adventure. See his work on Instagram (@parkertikson).
“The Cascades and Olympic mountains have always been close to home. And while many things changed over the course of my life, one thing has remained the same: the joy and peace I experience when I am in the mountains. They are my happy place. The place I go when I need to reset and recharge. I love to experience them by myself, with my friends, and most of all my family. I always tell people, the more I travel and see the world, the more I realize how blessed I am to come home to Washington, and a big reason for that is our national parks.”
Joel Wiebe is a husband and father to three beautiful children. He is part owner of the stock footage and rights clearance agency, Nimia, and owner/director at Biome Cinema, a video production company. When not producing or creating content for others, he loves to adventure with his family and teach his kids about the world around us, especially our national parks. You can find his work at biomecinema.com or at @biomecinema on Instagram.
“If one wants to make a truly lasting difference for future generations, you can’t do much better than working to preserve and protect our remaining natural places. That is why the work of Washington’s National Park Fund is so important, especially in this amazing part of the world that I call home.”
Vince Werner started out with 10 years of audio recording and mixing at Steve Lawson Productions/Bad Animals, followed by 23 years as co-founder of Clatter&Din, Inc., a leading Seattle area audio/video production studio, where he returned to his first love: video production. A native of the Northwest, he grew up with Mount Rainier looming outside his bedroom window. Learn more about Vince Werner Video Productions at VinceWerner.com.
“As a native son of Seattle, Washington’s national parks were critical in shaping my career path in conservation and photography. As a young adult I learned to climb in the North Cascades and now I love sharing Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park with people from around the world. These are our crown jewels that need to be protected and enjoyed by generations to come.“
Over the course of his 40-year career, photographer Art Wolfe has worked on every continent and in hundreds of locations. Wolfe’s photographic mission is multi-faceted: art, wildlife advocacy, education and journalism inform his work. Along with his numerous book and television awards, Wolfe is the proud recipient of the Nature’s Best Photographer of the Year Award, the North American Nature Photography Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Photographic Society of America’s Progress Medal. See more of his work at ArtWolfe.com.
We are grateful to all of these talented creatives!
Learn about the rest of Washington’s National Park Fund’s many partners who support our mission, and how you can get involved.
Thank you to Scott Kranz for sharing his unique shots of Inspiration Glacier and Moraine Lake in North Cascades National Park! This aerial footage was made possible through LightHawk donated flights.