Mitch Dobrowner was interviewed in dialogue with Chasing Light, a podcast which highlights the craft and lives of photographers and cinematographers. Watch the full podcast episode on Youtube!
Mitch Dobrowner was born in Long Island, New York. From a young age, he was drawn to the camera as a tool for exploring the world visually and emotionally. He cites artists like Ansel Adams and Minor White as early inspirations, alongside contemporary photographers whose works elevated landscape photography to a fine-art form.
In his twenties, Dobrowner moved westward, seeking the dramatic landscapes and open skies of the American Southwest. After a period of stepping back from photography to raise a family and build a business, he returned to photography in the early 2000s with renewed passion. This second chapter of his career would define his voice as one of the foremost interpreters of the natural world through photography.
Dobrowner is celebrated for his ability to merge technical mastery with emotional resonance. His black-and-white landscapes, seascapes, and storm photographs carry a painterly weight, transforming natural chaos into elegant compositions. He often refers to storms as “living sculptures,” capturing their sculptural and monumental qualities.
Perhaps his most iconic body of work, Dobrowner chased supercells, mesocyclones, and tornadoes across the Midwest and Southwest, often working alongside storm chasers. These images capture the raw majesty of weather as both a destructive and awe-inspiring force.
Mitch's images have been recognized by publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and LensWork. He has won the Sony World Photography Awards (2010, 2011, 2012), including 1st Place, Landscape Photographer of the Year among many others.