Mark Jansen: Chasing Light at the Edge of the World

Mark isn’t just a photographer, he’s a modern-day explorer with a camera in hand and adventure in his blood.

With a lens honed to the poetry of nature and a soul drawn to the untamed, Mark ventures where few dare to tread deep into mist-shrouded redwood forests, across sun-scorched deserts, through thunderous coastal storms, and up to the frozen heights of volcanic wilderness. His mission? To capture the raw, fleeting moments when the world reveals its secrets moments so easily missed, yet impossible to forget once seen.

“My work reflects the intricate details of nature that people never seem to notice at first glance,” he says. And for Mark, noticing is everything. He doesn’t just take photographs, he hunts the invisible, the overlooked, the wild heartbeat of the Earth itself.

Each image is the result of grit, obsession, and return-after-return to remote trails in pursuit of perfect light and the magic that happens when nature holds its breath. Whether he’s facing down Alaskan brown bears, tracking wild horses through dust-strewn canyons, or catching the last rays of sun over a glacial Icelandic horizon, Mark shoots not for spectacle, but for soul.

His work is more than beautiful — it’s a testament to the power of patience, the thrill of discovery, and the art of truly seeing. From sweeping landscapes to industrial relics of human achievement, his photographs range from the sublime serenity of the Sierras to the roaring steel beasts of World War II aviation and classic racing cars. His sepia-toned murals, permanent installations at California’s Camarillo and Santa Maria Airports — summon echoes of daring pilots and roaring engines, frozen in time and legend.

Mark’s images live on walls across the world, from private collectors to major corporations like State Farm and Sysco. But his legacy isn’t just in his years exploring unique personal projects, it’s in the journey he shares. For 17 years, alongside his wife Holly, he led photographers into the wilderness through Jansen Photo Expeditions,a hands-on, boots-in-the-dirt workshop series that turned hobbyists into explorers of light.

Today, Mark continues to inspire as an international photography educator through the Manfrotto School of Xcellence, pushing others to leave the safe path, chase the story behind the image, and lose themselves in the wild.

Christopher Robinson, editor of Outdoor Photographer Magazine, said it best:

“This is gorgeous work!”

But behind the beauty lies something deeper: a relentless drive to explore, to feel, to remember and to remind the rest of us that the world is still full of wonder, if you know where (and how) to look.