Mary Parkhill, a professional photographer, made a bold decision to leave her successful career in advertising behind to pursue her passion for photography as a full-time endeavor. Today, she is renowned for her fine art photography, which predominantly centers around capturing the beauty of natural landscapes. Parkhill dedicates her summers to documenting the breathtaking scenery of Alaska, a region that provides her with an abundance of picturesque subjects. Among her captivating works are stunning photographs of orcas gracefully frolicking in the waters.
Parkhill possesses a remarkable talent for not just capturing these moments but also for seamlessly blending them into perfect compositions. She masterfully employs the unique anatomy of orcas to guide the viewer’s eye across the photograph. In some instances, the nose or tail of the orca aligns perfectly with the radiant sun, creating a harmonious visual symphony. In other cases, the sunset serves as a golden backdrop, accentuating the majestic presence of these marine giants.
When asked about her inspiration for photographing orcas, Parkhill shares, “What inspires me most about photographing orcas is their sheer size, seeing them in their natural habitat, and their ability to still take my breath away.” Her summers in Alaska offer her the opportunity to explore and capture the inspirational landscapes of this magnificent region. Although her home base is in Pennsylvania, Parkhill has a particular fondness for whales, evident in her breathtaking photographs of orcas and humpback whales gracefully swimming and breaching in the Alaskan waters.
While all of her work is remarkable, it is her sunset photos that truly stand out. These images seamlessly merge landscape and fine art photography, creating a dreamy and captivating sense of escapism that lingers in the memory. Parkhill offers a selection of her orca sunset imagery for purchase on her website, allowing anyone to bring a slice of this dreamlike world into their own home.
Mary Parkhill’s dedication to capturing the beauty of orcas and the allure of sunsets not only showcases her artistic talent but also allows viewers to embark on a visual journey that transcends the ordinary and immerses them in the extraordinary world of these magnificent creatures and the awe-inspiring landscapes they inhabit.
