St. Albert Lensman Captures Coveted Recognition

At first sight, the imagery of the Aurora Borealis navigating across the Milky Way is striking. However, upon further examination, the spectacle transforms into a magnificent bird emitting vibrant blue-green luminance from its body and wings.

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

“I felt quite honored. It’s incredibly rewarding to receive image acknowledgment from my professional colleagues. The feeling was genuinely uplifting,” expressed Marino, a landscape photographer.

Participating photographers are required to submit four images across various categories. Marino opted to present two images in the pictorial florals category, one in fine art, and one in animal photography.

The Hummingbird, rated at the top of the evaluation chart, was photographed on May 10 in the southeastern part of Edmonton in an area with minimal light pollution.

“I have several spots with a northern view. On this particular night, the aurora was so powerful it began to shift to the south. As I scanned the heavens, I realized I needed to adjust southward. I had to act quickly. The aurora was bursting with reds and greens. I pulled over on a backroad and set my tripod. The most vigorous aurora was directly overhead, and I began shooting. I had no clue I had captured this shot until the following morning when I reviewed my memory card,” Marino recounted.

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

“The water appears tranquil and serene, even as a storm looms with clouds gathering.”

A second monochrome submission by Marino was Born to Soar, depicting an eagle soaring over Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park. His final entry was Gem of the Dolomites, showcasing a charming little church located in a verdant valley.

“Behind the church lies a stunning mountain range. The shot was taken at sunset, with golden rays illuminating the clouds, creating a soft, silky atmosphere.”

Born and raised in Edmonton, Marino is currently employed by Enbridge as an in-house attorney, leading a team that supports the company’s renewable wind and solar initiatives.

Photography emerged as a secondary passion for him while living in Bermuda.

“We relocated to Bermuda for a life adventure. Our children were two and four at the time; it was the right moment to embark on this journey.”

The family resided in Bermuda for three years. When planning to return in 2005, Marino sought to capture his memories of the island and acquired a pre-owned SLR camera.

“I explored the island on a moped for two days, photographing the beautiful locations we visited. I wanted to preserve those memories. Over the two days, I shot 1,500 images. I filled several memory cards, but capturing those moments was paramount.”

Upon returning to Alberta, Marino recognized his profound love for photography, yet initially, it took a backseat as he focused on launching his career. By 2018, he was back in the fray, amassing more than 150 international, national, and regional photography accolades.

Although the Rocky Mountains remain his frequent natural escape, he has also documented scenes in Death Valley, Nevada, Joshua Tree National Park in California, Arizona’s Grand Canyon, Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, and the Oregon coast.

On his website, Marino states, “We are all privileged to inhabit a world filled with boundless natural beauty, where photographic opportunities are limited only by our imagination; therefore, I seize each opportunity to explore and capture that natural magnificence.”

His forthcoming projects include documenting a solar cycle, traveling to Iceland to potentially photograph a volcano, and capturing a total solar eclipse along the path of totality.