August 2020

I am thrilled to announce that National Wildlife Magazine is featuring one of my favorite images on their cover of the August-September 2020 issue, which I call “Drizzly Bear…Reigning over the Tongass.” For me this image represents the very essence of the Tongass. The forest’s apex predator stands in a tree in the middle of the ever expanding old-growth forest, surveying its domain in a drenching rain, while in a total state of grace. I love telling a whole story with one image. Thank you National Wildlife Federation for selecting this image. “Drizzly Bear” is a well-published image as celebrated in this short video. Make sure to watch all Mark Kelley produced videos in HD!

I am proud to announce that my latest book “Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier” is a gold winner in the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin award program. The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™ are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent book publishers. Winners showcase a publisher’s commitment to high-quality book content and production. From close to 1,500 entries, one gold winner was named in each of fifty-four categories. Meanwhile, the book has also been selected as a finalist in two categories of the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, and the winners will be announced June 15, 2018. This is an exciting time!

March 2018
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, my alma mater, invited me to spend four days this week with students in the Communication and Journalism Department. I will be giving a lecture on my journey as a photographer and this has given me time to reflect on how lucky I am. My work has allowed me to travel to many of the wild places in this beautiful state I live in, with many more wild places to go…

January 2018
Check out this beautiful image gallery of the National Wildlife 2017 Photo Contest Honorable Mentions. “Nature lovers from around the world entered more than 25,000 images in our 2017 National Wildlife^® Photo Contest. Each of these images reflects the photographer’s individual style, captures a special moment in time and displays myriad levels of photographic technique.” – nwf.org

January 2018
I was scanning the magazine covers in the checkout line at our local grocery store, and did a double take when I spied Alaska Magazine. The front cover image looked like one of my photos, and sure enough the credits showed that my photo agent had sold one of my photos to the magazine.  I took this image while on a photo shoot with TEMSCO helicopters in Juneau about 10 years ago and submitted it to a photo agent. How cool to see it show up ten years later as a magazine cover.

October 2017

September 2017
It is an honor to be featured in the “Winner’s Profile” on NANPA’s website. I am still blown away to be a 9-time winner in their 2017 Showcase competition. NANPA is North America’s premiere nature photography organization.

June, 2017
A slideshow of the new book “Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier”…in our local newspaper…

June 27, 2017
Thanks to the Juneau Empire for featuring the book release of “Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier.”

May 10, 2017
It has been a year in the making, and I am very happy with the results. “Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier” features my favorite glacier!

March 21, 2017
I woke up to the news that Bing showcased one of my favorite shots Drizzly Bear. I just got Binged! Thanks bing.com

February 2017
Class Magazine in Italy used these Mark Kelley images for this beautiful layout in their Alaska story. WOW!

February 2017
Every other year I  participate in the NANPA Showcase Photo Competition. NANPA, the North American Nature Photography Association, is North America’s preeminent nature photography organization. For the 2017 Showcase Competition 369 Photographers submitted a total of 3350 images. Three Mark Kelley images made it in the top 20! I am happy the image “Bald Eagle Fire”, shot in Adak, Alaska, made Best in Show. The image is a great example of why I like to sometimes call myself a nature photojournalist.

February 2017
Every fall Pete Huberth used to come by the office for calendars. Pete mailed over 20 Mark Kelley calendars all over the world. This February 2017 our good friend Pete passed away. We will miss you, Pete!

October 2016
Glad to meet up with all the great folks that make Alaska the best place for a visit.
Thank you Alaska Travel Industry Association! I joined Gwen Horchover from Entrée Alaska on the train to Palmer.

June 2016
A fun shot of a sea otter in Frederick Sound, taken during a recent photo expedition with great new friends. A big thank you goes out to captain Ronn Patterson of the Delphinus and Dolphin Charters.

May 2016
I placed first in this year’s Showcase 2016, the 24th annual photo contest. The fun news is that the first place prize is two round-trip, first class tickets to anywhere they fly…hmm, Costa Rica or Hawaii, tough decisions!  I call this photo “OMG Glacier Calve”: As the Johns Hopkins Glacier calves, a kayaker paddles away from the massive falling ice blocks. The long lens that I was using compresses one’s distance perspective and makes things seem closer together than they really are. It seems unbelievable, but to my surprise the kayaker just appeared in front of the glacier as it started its massive calve. The kayaker was not hurt or even in danger. There are two rules of photography at work here in this image: Serendipity happens (1), and, if you don’t go you will never get the photo (2), so go out there! Thanks for visiting and thank you, Alaska Airlines

February 2016
Thanks for all who came to my show at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. This year’s Fireside Chat titled “Thinking Photos” focused a bit more on the technical aspects of photography. I especially wanted to share my insights with members of the Juneau Photo Group, who post such amazing photos on Facebook for all of us to enjoy. My way of saying thank you, and for keeping up the great work!

February 2016
“Ode to Glacier Bay”- The February 2016 issue of Alaska Magazine features a special cruise section, and it would not be complete without a section on Glacier Bay. The magazine chose an excerpt by author Sherry Simpson, from my Glacier Bay National Park book, and illustrated with Mark Kelley Photography images. Thank you Alaska Magazine.

January, 2016
It is done, very happy with a fully updated Second Edition of my photo book Alaska: A Photographic Excursion – 2nd Edition

January 2016
I have been photographing Glacier Bay for over 35 years, and this last summer was the first time I was able to get really close to Johns Hopkins Glacier. As soon as we got there on July 5, Johns Hopkins started going off like the 4th of July fireworks. In the space of two hours we had at least seven major calvings. This image is the first calving and I just pulled up and shot.  I was shooting my Nikon 80-400mm in DX mode which gave me the equivalent of a 600mm lens. Everything happened so quickly, I did not even see the kayakers in the frame. What a PATAGONIA moment!

December 2015
The current issue of ALASKA MAGAZINE features a photo story of my trip in Glacier Bay last summer with Dolphin Charters and guests. Check it out…

Christmas Eve, 2015
I received a really fun gift today: I got Binged! Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, used this image I shot of Amalga Harbor as their homepage image of the day today. How fun is that! Bing is the second largest search engine in the US with more than twenty percent share of the market. A big thank you to Bing and to the Kegler family here in Juneau. The Kegler’s purchased the Christmas tree on their floating dock from state surplus and used a forty foot under water electrical cable to light it up. A true Alaskan moment.

November, 2015
I will be signing calendars at Hearthside’s Annual Holiday Event this Saturday, November 21, from 1-3. See you at the Nugget Mall!

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September 9, 2015
Richard Hebhardt took this photo unbeknownst to me. Richard joined up for this year’s Glacier Bay photo expedition, which turned out to be just an awesome trip. More info on photo expeditions can be found at www.markkelley.com/alaska-photo-expeditions
photo by Richard Hebhardt

August 1, 2015
Two of my images are featured in this month’s issue of Alaska Magazine. This image I call “Hanging Out” and was taken in Anan Creek, near Wrangell, Alaska. Anan has both a black and brown bear population. When mama black bear goes fishing in the creek she will send her cubs up a tree to wait for her in safety.

July 31, 2015
This past month I spent seven days onboard Ronn Patterson’s M/V Delphinus as photo leader for Dolphin Charters. Eight photographers joined us for a full week in Glacier Bay National Park, what an amazing trip. Glacier Bay just keeps calling me and I will keep going back.

I am really glad I had the opportunity to collaborate on the project:  The View from the Future 2017, Fifty Years after the Alaska Purchase Centennial, by shooting the images for the section on Southeast Alaska. Worth a look…more info at Taku Graphics: “As the Purchase Sesquicentennial approached, six writers and six photographers all-Alaskan notables-were asked to travel the state and share what became of those big ideas of 1967. What they found was more than just a memory.”

May 15, 2015
The weather has been great in Juneau this last week, and is forecasted to continue into next week. Tracy Arm is one of my very favorite places to go on a sunny day. I joined Adventure Bound Alaska and captain Steve Weber for a great day on the water in Tracy Arm. Wildlife was out in force and we saw killer whales, harbor seal, sea lions, bears, and many eagles.

May 6, 2015
I enjoyed working with the folks from Princess Cruises on this shoot. Can’t beat hanging out with sled dogs and mushers on a sunny day on the Juneau docks. Happy Summer!

April 22, 2015
Glacier Bay National Park is the star in New York this Earth Day and in Forbes Magazine! I have spent more than eight months of time in Glacier Bay over the years and it holds a special place in my heart. It is a wild land of silence and glacial thunder. Celebrate Glacier Bay today…Thank you UNESCO and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

April 2015
Excited to be going to New York at the invitation of watch-maker Jaeger-LeCoultre! Last summer I went on a location shoot in Glacier Bay National Park with staff from UNESCO and Jaeger-LeCoultre. The exhibit “A journey through #WorldHeritage Site Glacier Bay National park” features images from the trip. Jaeger-LeCoultre is a long-time sponsor of UNESCO and the planet’s Marine World Heritage Sites. The exhibition takes place during the 5th Annual Madison Avenue Watch Week in the New York Boutique, 701 Madison Avenue from April 20-25. For more information, please contact boutique.newyork@jaeger-lecoultre.com

March 15, 2015
Every year since 1944, the Missouri School of Journalism has recognized the best work in photojournalism through the Pictures of the Year International (POYi) contest. The contest is the oldest (72 years) and considered by many the most prestigious photojournalism program and competition in the world. This year, I took third place in the Science & Natural History category for an image of a black bear standing tree. I am honored to have my image in the same company with other photographers working for National Geographic, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and many more.

March 10, 2015
I am always looking for the next great shot of Juneau. And what is better than a shot of Juneau with the northern lights. Each year I need that perfect image for the next year’s Juneau calendar. This image got so much attention on Facebook it is definitely a contender. Can you believe the FB reach surpassed the 100,000 mark, more than any other post to date!

March 2015
Celebration is one of the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples and it is the second largest event sponsored by Alaska Natives in the State of Alaska. Celebration is held every other year, and I was the official photographer for Celebration 2014. It is a true honor to attend the event and bear witness to the importance of this cultural celebration to the people of Alaska. Sealaska released its annual report and included a beautiful collage of images.

February 4, 2015
GRAPHIS announced its winners of the 2015 Photography Annual this week. Two Mark Kelley images claimed a Silver prize and a third image qualified for a Merit award. I took the image below while on vacation in Portugal in 2013. “Portugal Sunset” is a silver award winner. The Photography competition features some of the most compelling photography of the year. I am looking forward to the actual magazine which will include the silver prize winners.

January 31, 2015
An Evening with Mark Kelley
The Basics of Photography – Alaska Style
Join me on Saturday, January 31
7PM – Egan Lecture Hall
Discover the heart and soul behind what makes a beautiful image. During the show I will be sharing my insights into the world of photography – Alaska style!
A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
This is a fundraising event benefitting the Southeast Alaska Land Trust.

November 25, 2014
I thought I would share my Smithsonian acceptance speech for my family and friends who missed the great event. This image of the exhibit was taken at the end of the awards gala as we were leaving the exhibit.

How cool is this. I am in the Smithsonian in DC, and even better, my image is in the Smithsonian. Thank you Nature’s Best for this great honor and for this grand evening of celebration. Thank you to my family and friends for showing up and sharing this moment with me. Most of all, thank you to my wife, Jan, who when our boys were very tiny and the money was very tight, convinced me to give up my weekly paycheck as the photographer for the local daily newspaper in order to pursue my dream of becoming a nature/wildlife photographer. Fast forward 21 years later, and I am standing here receiving this award; a sweet acknowledgement of our very good decision. Finally, this photo REALLY would not have been possible without Jan…she is the human standing in this piece of heaven on earth in Yosemite National Park.

November 20, 2014
Thank you MARY CATHARINE MARTIN for your article in the Juneau Empire. The Empire included a large sized image of the photo in the Smithsonian exhibit – it covered almost half the page!

November 13, 2014
Speech – check – photo – check – Whew, all was grand at the Smithsonian and my wife, Jan, said I was a star! It was a splendid night. Thank you for all the great comments and well speech wishes. I want to thank the Smithsonian, Nature’s Best, and Epson for such an incredibly beautiful exhibit. This picture cannot possibly show the quality of the exhibit, I recommend you go and visit! This image was taken by Barbara Fitgerald

November 7, 2014
Reading to students in teacher Kitty Eddy’s K-1 Tlingit Language and Culture Classroom from his recently released book titled “Once Upon Alaska: A Kids Photo Book” at Harborview Elementary School on Thursday. Kelley is donating one of the books to every kindergarten to second grade class in the Juneau School District. Photo by Michael Penn  – Juneau Empire

October 24, 2014
Nature’s Best Photography exhibit opens today! We mentioned last spring that  Mark Kelley is a 2013 Windland Awards winner in the Outdoor Adventure category. The actual Nature’s Best Photography exhibit opens today and includes Mark’s image Vernal Falls Rainbow

August 2014
On location as a guest speaker at Camp Denali during the Special Emphasis Series 2014:  “Autumn Nature Photography Workshop”.

August 2014
Photo by Ryan O’Keven

August 6, 2014
Anan Wildlife Observatory at Anan Creek near Wrangell, Alaska is one of the few places in Alaska where black bears and brown bears congregate in the same place.  I love coming here because there are SO many bears; some forty to sixty black bears and about five to ten brown bears visit the Anan Creek drainage during the summer to fish. Just to feel the action at Anan I shot this short clip on Youtube with my Nikon D800.

August 5, 2014
Photo by Robert Johnson

July 29, 2014

Mark Kelley’s “Once Upon Alaska” has been honored by Mom’s Choice and is now A Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Recipient.

June 15, 2014
Mark at work during Celebration 2014.  Celebration is one of the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples and is the second largest event sponsored by Alaska Natives in the State of Alaska. Photo by Melissa Museth

May 2, 2014

Celebrating Alaskan Freeride APA in a can! Mark Kelley and the Alaskan Brewing Company go back a ways – Enjoy this fun Mark Kelley image while enjoying your Alaskan APA in a can on a sunny Juneau afternoon…

April 4, 2014
“Once Upon Alaska” was featured during KTOO’s Morning Edition.  Thank you Lisa Phu and Matt Miller.

February 2014
During the last two weeks I have spend 4 nights in the day waiting and watching for northern lights. Two nights…no cigar and two nights…heaven. When nothing is happening I try to sleep, setting my alarm for 10 minutes at the time. I wake up, look around and go back to sleep as long as the Northern Lights are not out yet. I go through the night on this spin cycle from wake to sleep and am pretty worthless the next day at work.

February 2014
It has been cold and clear for most of February.  The days are getting longer and the sun has been out most of the time. Mendenhall Lake has been frozen for a while now, giving easy access to the ice caves of the Mendenhall Glacier.  All of Juneau is turning out to visit, making it hard for me to take great photos.  I guess I just have to enjoy visiting the caves instead of trying to see them through my lens and working all the time.  My friend Skip took this photo.

August 2, 2013

Photo courtesy of Jithin Jinan

April, 2013
Looking forward to this lecture with Lynn Schooler. Join us on the 25th at UAS!

January 11, 2013

Thank you Abby Lowell at the Juneau Empire for featuring Mark Kelley in your article.

July 4, 2012

Photo taken by Rachelle Sloss

March 14, 2012

Mark Kelley, Jay Beedle, and Jayleen Beedle share wildlife images at UAS, presented by the Alaska Wildlife Alliance

April 4, 2007

Mark Kelley joins the Juneau Artists Gallery for the release of his new book “Alaska: A Photographic Excursion” – Capital City Weekly

June 7, 2006
In the Juneau Empire: “Juneau resident Mark Kelley received the Benjamin Franklin Award on May 17 in Washington, D.C. for his book, “Alaska’s Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glaciers.” The award, sponsored by the Publishers Marketing Association, is given for overall book quality with consideration for photography, design, writing, printing and overall presentation. Seventeen-hundred books were entered in the contest.”

April 27, 2006
Kelley and fellow wildlife photographer John Hyde published a 2004 book about whales, “Alaska’s Watchable Whales: Humpback and Killer Whales.” Friday, they’re opening an accompanying exhibit at the Alaska State Museum – 20 to 25 photos of humpbacks and killer whales. “Alaska’s Watchable Whales” opens 12 to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 29, and closes Oct. 14. – Juneau Empire reviews “Alaska’s Watchable Whales” at the Governors Gallery in the Alaska State Museum, April 29-October 14

June 6, 2001
“Kelley, a photographer known for his yearly calendars of Juneau and Southeast and several photo books, was awarded the 2001 Benjamin Franklin Award in the travel-essay category for the coffee-table book, “Glacier Bay National Park.”- Juneau Empire

August 1, 2000
Publishing partners Mark Kelley Photography and Goldbelt, Inc. discuss the release of “Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska” by Mark Kelley in Alaska Business Monthly

1987
Just found this book review on the web of Heartbeat: World Eskimo Indian Olympics, one of my first book projects and a proud moment. This is a link to the full article…