The Mountaineers
Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to Art Wolfe.
10 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
How did you first start taking pictures? Was there one person or place that inspired you to become a professional photographer?
Painting was my first artistic outlet as a kid, and that carried on through college. At the University of Washington in Seattle, I got my degree in Art and Art Education but knew in my late teens that photography was going to be my avocation. I started climbing in the Cascade Range with friends and would take pictures when we summited peaks. I soon learned that the speed of photography suited my impatient temperament more than painting. Case in point, I once put an oil painting in the oven to dry faster - my mother was not amused!
Hailed as “the most prolific and sensitive recorder of a rapidly vanishing natural world,” Art Wolfe has traveled around the world photographing nature, wildlife, and culture.
What are your favorite subjects to photograph – people, places, wildlife?
I am a generalist and like to say that I photograph without prejudice, meaning that I will photograph just about anything of interest. My start as a nature photographer was definitely good cross-training for later as I turned my camera to cultural and street photography. My reflexes and eye are quick as scenes unfold before me.
Art Wolfe is the author of 125 books, including a title with Mountaineers Books.
Of the millions of images that you’ve taken, is there one that has special meaning to you?
The cover of my most recent book Wild Lives features a brown bear that looks to be charging directly at me. Even though she was fishing for salmon and had absolutely no interest in me, it was still a breathtaking moment that I will never forget.
When you visit a location as often I have, you begin to recognize the locals. I have a history with this bear. She’s a female I’ve photographed in years past, and catches fish like no other. When I photographed her in 2018, she had two cubs demanding her attention and was still the best. As the male bears splashed and thrashed at fish, she was like an efficient machine; feeding her cubs was her prime objective. When I captured this image, I knew exactly what she would do and stayed focused on her.
Art Wolfe photographing king penguins on South Georgia Island.
How do you use your photography to support conservation of the places and subjects you focus on?
Photography helps connect nature with people on a visceral level, making a single photo an exceptionally important conservation tool. I want to use my photos as a lure to attach people to a subject, make them care, and ultimately take action. Whether it’s a vanishing species, culture, or landscape, I think we ought to care more about these subjects than we currently do.
For decades I have supported many conservation organizations, large and small, in various ways: contributing photographs to conservation-mission books (such as those published by Braided River); donating prints, books, and the occasional workshop to conservation group auctions; and lending my name and photos for environmental initiatives and membership drives. My book projects and TV show Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge have provided international platforms for organizations such as the University of Washington Center for Environmental Forensic Science, DarkSky International, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resource Defense Council, and Conservation International.
As our 2025 Adventure with Purpose Award honoree, what does the idea of adventuring with purpose mean to you?
There is no experience more mind-expanding than traveling and experiencing other cultures and landscapes. It’s so important to get out into the world (whether nearby or overseas) and explore. Adventuring with purpose is a way to share experiences, be inspired by the natural world, and in turn, protect it for future generations.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Sunrise or sunset? Sunset
Smile or Game Face? Game face
What's you 11th Essential? Small Tabasco bottle
What's your favorite post-activity meal? Chicken tacos
What's your favorite close-to-home adventure? Schmitz Park, West Seattle
Art Wolfe shooting on location in (left to right) Bhutan, Botswana, and South Georgia Island.
MORE ABOUT art wolfe
Art has worked on every continent in hundreds of locations, using his photographs to win support for conservation issues by showcasing the beauty of Earth. His photographs are recognized throughout the world for their mastery of color, composition, and perspective, and have appeared in the world’s top publications, traveling exhibitions, and a myriad of products, productions, and advertising. Art has released over 125 books, including a Mountaineers Books publication Travels to the Edge: A Photo Odyssey. He has also worked on numerous television shows, including the award-winning series Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge, and leads photographic tours and workshops around the globe.
Adventure With purpose award
On April 26, The Mountaineers will honor Art Wolfe with our 2025 Adventure with Purpose Award at our Annual Gala. Art is hailed as “the most prolific and sensitive recorder of a rapidly vanishing natural world,” and The Mountaineers is honored to recognize the Seattle-based photographer for his work to inspire connection to and protection of the natural world, all while advancing the idea that nature is intended to be experienced - not conquered - through the celebration of and respect for Indigenous cultures worldwide.
The award is our highest recognition of those whose life work embodies our organizational priorities to LEAD Innovation in Outdoor Education, ENGAGE a Vibrant Community of Outdoor Enthusiasts, and ADVOCATE on Behalf of the Natural World. By recognizing an annual recipient with the Adventure with Purpose Award, our goal is to show appreciation for exceptional impact and inspire others to be their best selves in the outdoors.
Join us in person at the Gala by purchasing a ticket or tune in for the award presentation by securing a virtual Gala ticket today.
Art Wolfe on location in Altiplano, Bolivia.
Art Wolfe photographing a Giant Chameleon in Madagascar.