Nature is a messy place. Visually, it is a dynamic mish-mash of shape, texture, pattern and color. I love the challenge of finding photographs hidden within this visual chaos, especially when the task is compounded by dealing with the elements. Wilderness photography, in all of its forms, ultimately comes down to respecting the possibilities and visual complexities yet minimizing to the essentials. In that respect, it is a lot like backpacking. Maybe that's why I love it.

Recently, I have been producing a series of online documentaries, transmitting multimedia dispatches from the wilds to the web. As an online correspondent I have been privileged to tell some remarkable stories through my own eyes -- to back sharks off with my camera, to make deep-sea submersible forays into the unknown, to solo trek hundreds of miles through the Patagonia -- some really fascinating stuff.

The camera has allowed me to travel to these inspirational, wild and impossible places -- places that have altered my fundamental perceptions of the planet. That's not something that happens everyday.

Contact Mark at mc@remotedispatch.com