Artist Pages

Olof Carmel

Olof Carmel: Biography

Born in Sweden and raised in Illinois and Connecticut, Olof was introduced to the outdoors at a young age. As a child, he skied and sailed with his father. As a young adult, he became an accomplished marathoner and cross country cyclist. He also spent eight summers as a National Park Service backcountry ranger in Yosemite, Mt Rainier, Rocky Mountain, Glacier and Denali National Parks. During those winters he taught Nordic skiing and led overnight winter camping trips for the Yosemite Mountaineering School.

Olof began taking photographs during a high school class and acquired his own darkroom soon thereafter. Following graduate school at UC Berkeley, he expanded his knowledge with employment at one of San Francisco's foremost B&W studios.

In the 90's Olof coached his hometown high school Nordic ski team to multiple boys and girls CA state championships. His interest in architecture and building led him to obtain his contractors license and to design and build many custom homes.

Like the inspirational photographer Galen Rowell, Olof enjoys combining athleticism and photography. Olof regularly goes on backpacking trips, wilderness runs and Nordic ski outings alone with his camera or with his wife Elizabeth, also a photographer.

Olof's archival fine art prints combine dramatic photography, vivid colors and artistic touches to create a unique and captivating vision of the natural landscape. His award winning images are featured locally in the Tahoe - Truckee area, in Yosemite, in Alaska and are in numerous galleries and private collections throughout the United States. His work was recently selected for display at the California State Capitol in Sacramento and at the Nevada Museum of Art.

Olof and Elizabeth live outside Truckee, CA in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with their daughter Abbey.