Where it all started.

I first picked up a DSLR camera in the winter of 2018. Photography has always intrigued me so when my mom purchased a kit canon I naturally gravitated towards it. I asked to borrow it for a trip I was taking through the beautiful Olympic National Forest of Washington State. I'd never used a "real" camera before so I just set the dial to manual mode and began testing it out. Of course, questions immediately arose but as it turned out I did not have any cell service on the entire trip so I spent my free time absorbing everything I could from the owner’s manual, even though it all seemed like gibberish to me. I took a lot of really terrible photos that trip but was left intrigued with how to shoot at night. 

With my moms permission I took her camera back up to where I lived at a ski field in the Cascade Mountains. The stars shined bright at this elevation and there was very little light pollution so I set out night after night attempting to capture the night sky. This was captivating for me as I have always loved everything astrology.

After spending hours upon hours of standing in one spot throughout the bitterly cold nights numb to the fact that I'm shivering uncontrollably in single digit temps, and even lower wind chills, I finally began capturing the images I had in mind. I was instantly hooked.

During this same time I was battling a debilitating illness that prevented me from doing most of my favorite hobbies such as, hiking, skiing, backpacking, hunting etc…lucky for me I had a renewed sense of hope and a new creative spark in me. I began using my down time to absorb information and better yet, to learn by hands on trial and error.

I spent countless hours chasing the night sky, moonrises, moonsets, sunrises, and sunsets. During all this time spent in nature it became more evident than ever how tuned in I am to not only nature, but to the wildlife all around me as well. Having been raised by a bowhunting dad, my earliest memories are of hunting and tracking animals. Little did I know then that the skills I was acquiring from a young age would play a huge role in my success at getting close to animals with a camera in hand. It was as if I was gifted a 6th sense and could feel the presence of a nearby animal before spotting it due to this early instillment of learning animal behaviors.

Wildlife photography has become my driving passion and I’m excited to share the intimate moments I’ve been privileged to get to encounter, with you.

I appreciate you having taken the time to read a little bit about the evolution of my photography. My hope is that I can deliver more than just a scene printed on canvas but also a feeling and emotion in my creative work for you to enjoy.

~ Tori Harp

Awards & Achievments

New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2024

Runner Up - Built Environment

Winterstellar Astrophotography Competition 2024

First Place - Natural Category

Mountain House Creative 2024

Local Award Winner

Real NZ Photography Competition 2023

First Place Winner

Cardrona/Treble Cone Photo Competition

First Place Winner

Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance

First Place Winner

Shortlisted as Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022

Natural History Museum