Meet Meredith Fontana | Landscape Photographer, Naturalist & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meredith Fontana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meredith, what’s your definition for success?
I define success as the ability to spend my days immersed in what I love, free to chase the passions that ignite my soul and make me feel truly alive. To me, success is a feeling of alignment with who I truly am at my core; a state of being that I don’t believe can be found through external sources of validation like money, degrees, or accolades. I’ve learned over the years that success is rarely achieved by chasing it, and that it’s something you must cultivate within yourself first. True success begins with the hard work of inner growth, self-awareness, and deciding to choose a path in life that reflects your authentic desires – not the desires of others or what you are told is the “safe” thing to do. When you focus on developing confidence, clarity, and purpose from within, it naturally starts to reflect in your outer world in the form of what most of society defines as success, like accomplishments and opportunities.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art as a landscape photographer is deeply rooted in my journey as a paleontologist, naturalist, and expedition leader. These experiences instilled in me a profound appreciation for the stories our planet has to tell – stories of ancient worlds, ever-changing landscapes, and the delicate balance between life’s resilience and fragility. I approach landscape photography as both a scientist and a storyteller, using my images to connect people with the natural world. Though I have replaced hunting for fossils with searching for compositions, my passion for uncovering the stories of how our environment evolves over time has remained unchanged.

I’m particularly proud of how my work contributes to conservation efforts. Through my photography, my goal is to encourage people to see the Earth not just as a backdrop, but as a living planet in dire need of our protection. Currently, my work is centered on an ambitious endeavor called the Colorado Wilderness Project. This project focuses on capturing the beauty, diversity, and significance of Colorado’s 44 federally managed wilderness areas. Through this effort, I aim to document each of these pristine landscapes in order to showcase their immense value to humanity and inspire a deeper appreciation for our last remaining wild lands. Only accessible by foot, I typically spend 3-4 days on arduous backpacking trips in these remote wilderness areas in order to completely immerse myself in the environment and capture the essence of their beauty.

In addition to the Colorado Wilderness Project, I also run an online landscape photography school and community called Landscape Photography Academy, which I’m incredibly passionate about. There I share my knowledge and experience with photographers from all around the world, helping them refine their skills and develop their creativity. It’s deeply rewarding to foster a community of learners who are not only honing their craft but also developing a deeper connection to the natural world through landscape photography.

Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy. Transitioning from the scientific world and a career in academia to establishing my own business as an artist required me to adapt, learn MANY new skills, and embrace vulnerability. I had to be uncomfortable most of the time and take a major leap of faith. I don’t think you ever fully overcome these challenges when you work for yourself and pursue the road less traveled, but I’ve learned how to move forward despite them. The keys to this include staying persistent, cultivating a positive mindset, maintaining my physical health, refusing to quit, creating art daily, a strong willingness to embrace uncertainty, a genuine desire to help others succeed, and continuing to be true to my mission and purpose in life.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned along my journey as an artist and an entrepreneur is that if you believe in yourself and never give up, you are guaranteed to win. It sounds cliché, but there is reason why the most successful people in the world will tell you the same thing. Sometimes you just have to learn this lesson for yourself before you can internalize its truth on a deeper level. The path of the artist is never laid out for you and it can seem terrifying at times, but if you focus on the next right action, the path begins to unfold bit by bit.

What I want the world to know is that my photography is not just about capturing beautiful landscapes; it’s about creating a lasting impact. It’s a love letter to the environment and a call to action to cherish and preserve the natural world. My story, and my brand, is a testament to the idea that art can inspire change – and that each of us has the power to contribute to a more sustainable future through our actions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
On the first day, we would explore the unique geological rock formation near Red Rocks Park. I would recommend a hike or trail run through Matthew Winters Park, which will give you stunning views of Red Rocks Amphitheater. Then we would have lunch at Moxy Eatery on Broadway – which has the BEST soup and sandwiches in Denver. We would then walk around South Broadway, exploring the unique eclectic shops like Fancy Tiger and Decade, and grab coffee at Metropolis, my go-to coffee shop. If it’s a 1st or 3rd Friday, I’d take my friend to the Santa Fe Art District to check out the best galleries and local art in Colorado. Definitely make it a point to check out Bitfactory Gallery if you are over there. At some point we would grab a cocktail and hang out at ESP HiFi on Santa Fe – one of my favorite bars in Denver.

On the second day we would drive up to Evergreen and go for a hike at Three Sisters Park. Afterwards, we would eat at the Muddy Buck. They have the best post-hike sandwiches in Evergreen, and the best chocolate chip cookies you will ever have in your life. Plus, it’s in a very cool, historic old hotel from the 19th Century. In the afternoon, we would check out the Colorado History Museum and the Denver Art Museum – both great places to take out-of-towners. Finally, we would get dinner at Cuba Cuba Cafe and Bar for one of my favorite meals in town.

On the third day we would probably go up to Rocky Mountain National Park and explore Trail Ridge Road – the highest paved road in North America so that we could get the full Rocky Mountain experience. On the way there, we would pick up delicious sandwiches and pastries at the St. Vrain Market in Lyons, CO so that we could have a picnic in the park. On our way home, we would stop and get beer at Holidaily Brewery in Golden. Then, for dinner, we would eat at Root Down for another outstanding meal. Finally, of course, we would get Ice Cream at Little Man Ice Cream down the street.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this Shoutout to the amazing women who raised me – my mom Robin Fontana, my aunt Sabrina Engel, and my late grandmother Lee Zelikow. These women raised me to believe that I could become and achieve anything I wanted in life, and have given me unconditional support and encouragement throughout my entire journey to where I am today. They provided me with the motivation and support to persevere, long after my ambitions and dreams seemed far fetched, unrealistic, and even impossible. Choosing an unconventional path in life is not easy, and these women got me through some of my darkest times when I nearly gave up. I will be forever grateful for their love and belief in me.

Website: https://www.meredithfontana.com

Instagram: @meredith_fontana

Other: https://www.skool.com/lpa/about

Image Credits
Tim Gillies
Meredith Fontana