BIOGRAPHY

Pat O'Hara's adventurous career as an environmental and fine art photographer has rewarded him with the reputation of a professional leader. Publishers, curators, peers and aspiring photographers have praise for his talents. Contemporary travel takes him to domestic and international locations to photograph parklands, nature reserves and cultural monuments many of which are remotely located.

 

Pat's color photography has been showcased in seventeen books. Washington Wilderness, The Unfinished Work , with writer Harvey Manning and Washington's Wild Rivers, with writer/poet Tim McNulty (both published by The Mountaineers Books, Seattle) were important regional contributions early in his career on behalf of wilderness preservation. Pat's work was featured in the Woodlands Press National Parks books, an award-winning series designed by McQuiston and Partners of Del Mar, California. His extensive publication history encompasses trade books, magazines, calendars, greeting cards, posters, advertisements, and electronic mediums. Commercial clients such as Fuji Film USA, Levi's, Eddie Bauer, Northwest Airlines, and General Motors have used Pat's photography for advertising and promotion. ABC and CNN television programs have featured Pat's expertise.

 

Professional awards have recognized Pat's talents over his career. Some notable examples are: Photography Gold Medal presented by the New York Art Directors Club, Award of Excellence by Communication Arts Magazine, Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Nature Photography Association (2006), numerous editorial salutations and Distinguished Alumni Award from Central Washington University. Nikon U.S.A. selected Pat to be one of the initial photographers featured on its “Legends Behind the Lens” Internet portfolio series He has served as a Board Member for the Olympic Park Institute (Yosemite National Institute family).

 

Several book concepts featuring Pat's photography are currently under development. Places of Inspiration, a fine art portfolio, will be complemented by exhibitions of his fine art prints. Impressionistic images will be featured in another portfolio. Collaborating with Russian photographer, Afanassi Makovnev, a book will honor the natural history, wildlife and subsistence cultures of the Beringian Heritage International Park, (a co-proposed park by the U.S. and Russia) along the Bering Strait and the Chukchi Sea straddling the Arctic Circle. Pat is also working closely with the country of Georgia (former Soviet Republic) in support of expanding their system of protected areas and preservation of cultural monuments. As part of the Georgia project, he was instrumental in launching the first One World Journeys web cast in 2001 sponsored by Epson. Artist-in-residence and guest artist positions were completed in Rocky Mountain, Badlands and Grand Teton National Parks which have established “Sister Park” relationships with Georgian nature preserves and national parks.

 

Fluent in digital imaging, Pat actively uses this technology for creative endeavors, particularly with fine art printing. Exhibits of his imagery have received accolades from the professional community. Recently he was invited to be the first photographer to exhibit at the National Parks Conservation Association's new gallery and information center in Seattle and enjoyed a successful three-month exhibit at the Mountain Light Gallery in California. His fine art prints reside in public and private collections internationally. Pat is an articulate public speaker and a gregarious workshop/seminar leader. He specializes in presentations emphasizing the creative photographic process and elements of composition.

 

His studio and home base are located on Washington State's beautiful Olympic Peninsula.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Creative pursuits in environmental photography guide me to visually interpret sensory experiences with the natural world. Quintessentially, these are outreaches for self-realization and a medium of self-expression inspired by a heightened awareness of our planet's natural resources.

 

Compositions created in my mind's eye emerge as realistic or impressionist photographic renderings. Three-dimensional serendipitous moments, exquisite light, elegant simplicity, emotion, artistic style and technique coalesce into two-dimensional imagery. It is my hope that their prowess will remain timeless.

 

Ultimately, my goal is to nurture in others a deep and enduring respect for the inspirational qualities of nature – to encourage active participation and contemplative viewing.