Discover the Stunning Award-Winning Photography of an Alberta Artist

Upon first look, the image of the Aurora Borealis illuminating the Milky Way is striking. However, with a more detailed view, the light display transforms into a magnificent bird emanating blue-green illumination from its body and wings. 

Jason Marino’s The Hummingbird contributed to the St. Albert photographer earning the title of 2024 Photographic Artist of the Year, bestowed by the esteemed Professional Photographers of Canada – Alberta Region. 

“I felt quite pleased. It’s an incredible sensation to have my work recognized by my professional colleagues. It truly was a gratifying feeling,” remarked Marino, a photographer specializing in landscapes. 

Photographers competing in this event must submit four images across different categories. Marino decided to present two images in the pictorial florals category, one in fine art, and another in animals. 

The Hummingbird, awarded the top designation, was taken on May 10 in the southeastern area of Edmonton, where light pollution is minimal. 

“I have several spots where the layout faces north. On this occasion, the aurora was so intense; it began to extend southward. As I monitored the sky, I understood I needed to shift southward. I had to act quickly. It was bursting with reds and greens. I pulled over on a side highway and prepared my tripod. The most vibrant aurora was directly overhead, and I started shooting. I didn’t realize I had captured this image until the following day when I reviewed my memory card,” Marino explained. 

Another entry was Calm Before the Storm, a monochrome photograph of the Maligne Lake boathouse taken with a long exposure. 

“The water appears still and tranquil, yet a storm looms as clouds gather.” 

A second monochrome photograph Marino presented was Born to Soar, featuring an eagle soaring over Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park. The final submission was Gem of the Dolomites, depicting a charming little church situated in a verdant valley. 

“Behind the church lies a stunning mountain range. This shot was taken at dusk with golden hues illuminating the clouds, creating a soft, silky effect.” 

Marino grew up in Edmonton. Currently, he works at Enbridge as an internal lawyer, overseeing a team that supports the company’s wind and solar initiatives. 

He developed his passion for photography while residing in Bermuda. 

“We relocated to Bermuda as part of an adventure. Our children were two and four years old at that time, and it was the right moment to do so.” 

The family spent three years in Bermuda. In 2005, as they were preparing to return, Marino wanted to preserve his memories of the island and bought a pre-owned SLR camera. 

“I rode a moped around the island for two days, capturing images of the beautiful locations we visited. I wanted to document them for remembrance. Within those two days, I shot 1,500 pictures. It required several memory cards, but it was exactly what I aimed to capture.” 

Upon returning to Alberta, Marino discovered how much he relished the process, but he prioritized establishing his career, sidelining photography. In 2018, he re-entered the scene and has since received more than 150 international, national, and regional photography accolades. 

Although he frequently visits the Rocky Mountains, a region of natural splendor, he has also photographed locations such as Death Valley in Nevada, Joshua Tree National Park in California, Arizona’s Grand Canyon, Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, and the Oregon coastline. 

On his website, Marino expresses, “We are all privileged to reside in a world brimming with endless natural beauty, where photographic possibilities are only bounded by our imagination, so I seize every opportunity to discover and capture that beauty.” 

His forthcoming pursuits include capturing a solar cycle, visiting Iceland to possibly photograph a volcano, and documenting a total solar eclipse along the path of totality.