Award Winning Photographer. Bestselling Author. Keynote Speaker
Mark Smith delivers powerful keynotes connecting wildlife behavior to human resilience, transformation, and the courage to rise from adversity.
I’ve been knocked down more times than I can count – and every time, I found my way back through art. First it was music. Then writing. Now photography and videography. Each one a stepping stone to the next, each one teaching me how to rise.
This talk is about what happens when you turn a camera on nature and realize you’re really turning it on yourself. It’s about the animals that became my teachers – ospreys rising from the water like phoenixes, sandhill cranes who showed me things about loss before I even understood what I was seeing. It’s about grief, second chances, and a promise I made to never stop pushing.
Every time I tell this story, people laugh, cry, and leave inspired.
“I watched as a full auditorium, already entranced by Mark’s videos of diving ospreys, became fully absorbed in his remarkable origin story, how, after dealing with personal (and avian) tragedy, he found a new life in the thrilling world of ospreys. It was truly amazing. They were as blown away by his stories as by his films.”
David Gessner
Author of Return of the Osprey
Distinguished Professor University of North Carolina Wilmington
Author of Return of the Osprey
Distinguished Professor University of North Carolina Wilmington
Past Appearances
HIPA 2025
Keynote Speaker, Dubai
Virginia Osprey Festival 2024
Keynote Speaker
UNC Wilmington 2025 Writer’s Week Symposium
Guest Speaker
Tom Rowland Podcast
Guest Appearance
The Photographer Mindset Podcast
Guest Appearance
In Love With the Process – ( Mike Pecci )
Guest Appearance
“The combination of Mark Smith’s breathtaking osprey videos and David Gessner’s reading from Return of the Osprey was nothing short of magical. The parallels between Mark’s own life journey and the lives of the ospreys he has spent years studying, photographing, and filming were striking. Both stories reflect resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering sense of purpose. Although I was unfamiliar with ospreys before that evening at UNCW, I left deeply moved by both these quintessential narratives of perseverance and meaning.”
Stephanie Caulder
Dean
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Dean
University of North Carolina Wilmington
“Leo thoroughly enjoyed your session and came away feeling genuinely inspired. Joshy was pleasantly surprised when Leo participated during the Q&A – a true testament to how engaged he was, as capturing the attention of a teenager can certainly be tricky! Thank you so much for making such a positive impact”
V. A.
“Your work is absolutely astounding. Thank you for sharing!”
S. W.
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