Mark Smith is a renowned wildlife photographer who went professional in 2017 after years as a ghost writer and musician. Before picking up a camera full-time, Smith wrote bestselling books on treasure hunting that funded his transition into photography—a journey that took him from Florida to the San Juan Mountains of Colorado in an RV with his family. In this conversation, Mark reveals the exact moment high in the Colorado mountains when the technical aspects of photography suddenly clicked for him, shares why he believes the popular "exposure triangle" teaching method is fundamentally flawed, and explains his controversial approach to documenting nature without interference—even when a ghost crab runs off with a baby sea turtle. He also opens up about photographing Dalmatian pelicans in Greece, community cats in Thailand, and why bald eagles feeding in Canadian ocean rapids remain the most challenging subject he's ever shot.
What is the exposure pyramid and why is it better than the exposure triangle?
The exposure pyramid adds a critical fourth element to photography's three core settings (shutter speed, aperture, and ISO): the photographer themselves. Mark Smith explains that while the traditional exposure triangle places these three technical elements at equal points, the missing piece is you as the photographer, because your distance from your subject and your creative decisions influence how all three settings must change. This human element at the top of the pyramid is what transforms technical knowledge into compelling images.
Who is Mark Smith?
Mark Smith is a professional wildlife photographer who started his career in 2017 after writing bestselling books on treasure hunting and metal detecting. He's a native Floridian who spent nine months traveling the United States in an RV with his family before settling in Western Colorado for three years, where his passion for photography truly ignited. Smith has photographed wildlife across multiple continents including Africa, Thailand, Greece, and Canada.
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Shop Star brite →From Bestselling Author to Wildlife Photographer
Before Mark Smith ever became known for his stunning wildlife photography, he was making a living as a ghost writer—and experiencing surprising success with it. His books on treasure hunting and metal detecting became bestsellers on Amazon, a success he attributes to perfect timing when reality TV shows about treasure hunting were driving massive interest. But what's remarkable is how those books created the foundation for his photography career. The financial freedom from book sales allowed him to pursue photography full-time without the pressure of immediate income, giving him space to learn and experiment. This wasn't just about money—it also gave him confidence that his voice and storytelling ability could connect with people, which later translated directly to his YouTube channel and social media presence. Mark explains the unexpected treasure hunting success and how it funded his photography dreams starting around 03:41.
The RV Journey That Changed Everything
When Mark's late wife suggested they sell everything they owned, buy an RV, and just go, his first thought was that she was crazy. But they did it anyway, and it became one of the best experiences of his life. The family spent nine months on the road, eventually falling in love with the San Juan Mountains of Western Colorado and staying for three years. But beyond the adventure itself, Mark discovered something unexpected about material possessions: getting rid of everything created a freedom he hadn't anticipated. The weight of owning stuff was lifted, and suddenly he felt like he could do whatever he wanted. The journey also became an incredible way to teach his son history—not from books, but by digging up relics and having him reverse-engineer the story of what they found. The full story of the RV decision and what they discovered about freedom starts at 00:49.
Hear Mark describe the moment in Colorado when photography suddenly clicked for him
The Epiphany at 11,000 Feet
There's a place in Western Colorado called Yankee Boy Basin, sitting at almost 11,000 feet elevation with a third less oxygen than sea level. It's a high mountain valley filled with waist-high wildflowers of every color, hummingbirds, picas, snow-capped peaks, and brooks—overwhelmingly beautiful. Mark was up there one day photographing hummingbirds when something profound happened: the relationship between the three main camera settings—shutter speed, aperture, and ISO—suddenly made complete sense. He jokes that he doesn't know if it was the lack of oxygen or the overwhelming beauty or both, but it felt like someone just downloaded all that information directly into his brain. From that point on, it was just fine-tuning based on whatever subject he was shooting and the available light. But Mark also realized something the popular teaching methods miss entirely. What Mark discovered about the missing element in photography education starts at 11:27.
The Ethics of Not Interfering
Some of Mark's most viral videos have also been his most controversial. When he filmed a cat on a Florida beach digging up a ghost crab and playing with it, many viewers condemned him for not intervening. Even more polarizing was footage of a ghost crab lifting up a newly-hatched sea turtle and running away with it. The reactions reveal a fundamental divide in how people view wildlife photography and the photographer's role. Mark's position is clear: he's there to document nature, not interfere with it. As hard as it is to watch predation, every animal deserves to eat, and you can't pick winners and losers. This philosophy was tested even more intensely during his trips to Africa, watching lions take down prey. The question of when and whether to intervene becomes deeply personal, but Mark has drawn his line—and taken heat for it. Mark explains his controversial approach to documenting predation starting at 17:29.
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SubscribeChasing Dalmatian Pelicans and Canadian Eagles
When Mark saw photos of Dalmatian pelicans—the largest pelicans in the world—he knew immediately he had to photograph them. These massive birds can weigh up to 30 pounds with 12-foot wingspans, and they gather in Greece during winter in full breeding colors with lit-up pouches and fancy feathers. Mark traveled to Greece specifically for these pelicans, and when the guide asked if he was really coming all that way just for pelicans, his answer was an absolute yes. But as incredible as those pelicans were, Mark says the hardest thing he's ever photographed remains the bald eagles in Canada. These eagles take advantage of a bizarre natural phenomenon where massive tidal surges create dangerous ocean rapids that force fish from great depths to the surface, giving them barotrauma. The eagles have been exploiting this for generations, but photographing them means being in a boat in the middle of those rapids with 300 eagles in a feeding frenzy, some coming in at 50 miles per hour. Mark describes why the Canadian eagles remain his most challenging shoot at 40:00.
This conversation goes deep.
From ghost writing to wildlife photography, Mark's journey will inspire any creative person.
Key Takeaways
- Mark Smith went from writing bestselling treasure hunting books to becoming a full-time wildlife photographer—and the financial freedom from his writing gave him space to learn photography without pressure
- At 11,000 feet in Colorado's Yankee Boy Basin, Mark experienced a breakthrough moment where photography's technical elements suddenly made complete sense—but he realized the teaching methods were missing a crucial fourth element
- Selling everything and traveling in an RV for nine months taught Mark's family an unexpected lesson about the weight of material possessions and the freedom that comes from letting go
- Mark's most controversial videos show predation in nature—a cat with a crab, a crab taking a turtle—and his refusal to interfere has sparked intense debate about a wildlife photographer's ethical responsibility
- The hardest subject Mark has ever photographed isn't lions in Africa or pelicans in Greece—it's bald eagles feeding in Canadian ocean rapids with 300 birds in a frenzy and some approaching at 50 miles per hour
- Mark followed Rick Rubin's philosophy of creating art in its purest form for yourself first—and believes that's why his social media grew from slow burn to sudden explosion
- When you produce content that truly amazes and teaches you something, then share it authentically with others, the audience connection follows—even if success on social media still involves elements of luck
Final Thoughts from Tom
I've been following Mark's work on Instagram for a while now, and his images are absolutely stunning. What I didn't know before this conversation was the incredible journey that brought him to where he is today—from musician to ghost writer to wildlife photographer. The story about his wife suggesting they sell everything and hit the road in an RV resonated with me deeply. Sometimes the best decisions in life sound crazy at first.
What really struck me was Mark's discussion about the ethics of wildlife photography and when to intervene. As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors fishing and observing nature, I understand that predator-prey relationship is natural and necessary. But I also get why viewers react emotionally to seeing a crab take a baby turtle. Mark handles this tension thoughtfully, and his perspective on documenting rather than directing nature is one that more people should consider.
The technical discussion about photography was fascinating too, especially his insight about the exposure pyramid versus the traditional exposure triangle. Adding the human element—the photographer—as the critical fourth factor makes so much sense. If you appreciate nature, photography, or just hearing about someone who built creative freedom on their own terms, this conversation is absolutely worth your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mark Smith Photography known for?
Mark Smith Photography is known for stunning wildlife and nature photography, particularly birds and animals in Florida and across the world. Mark went professional in 2017 and has built a massive social media following with content that brings viewers along on his wildlife encounters.
How did Mark Smith become a wildlife photographer?
Mark Smith became a wildlife photographer after writing bestselling books on treasure hunting that provided financial stability. He traveled across the United States in an RV with his family, spending time in Colorado's San Juan Mountains where his passion for photography truly ignited. He started with YouTube in 2017 at his son's suggestion and gradually built his following.
What is the exposure pyramid in photography?
The exposure pyramid is Mark Smith's improvement on the traditional exposure triangle teaching method. While the triangle places shutter speed, aperture, and ISO at three equal points, the pyramid adds a fourth element at the top: you, the photographer. Your distance from the subject and creative decisions influence how all three technical settings must change, making the human element crucial.
Should wildlife photographers intervene when predators attack prey?
Mark Smith's position is that wildlife photographers should document nature without interfering, even when predation is difficult to watch. He believes every animal deserves to eat and that photographers shouldn't pick winners and losers. This approach has been controversial, with some condemning him for filming a crab taking a sea turtle hatchling without intervention.
What are Dalmatian pelicans and where can you photograph them?
Dalmatian pelicans are the largest pelicans in the world, weighing up to 30 pounds with 12-foot wingspans. They can be photographed in Greece during winter months when they gather in breeding colors with lit-up pouches and fancy feathers. Mark Smith traveled to Greece specifically to photograph these impressive birds.
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Mark Smith
Mark Smith is a professional wildlife photographer who started his career in 2017 after years as a ghost writer and musician. He wrote bestselling books on treasure hunting and metal detecting before transitioning to full-time photography. A native Floridian, Mark spent nine months traveling the United States in an RV with his family before settling in Colorado's San Juan Mountains for three years, where his photography passion truly developed. He has since photographed wildlife across multiple continents including Africa, Thailand, Greece, and Canada. Mark's work has built a massive social media following on both YouTube and Instagram, where he brings viewers along on his wildlife encounters and teaches photography. He currently has over 1.7 million YouTube subscribers and continues to travel extensively photographing birds and wildlife around the world.
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