John Fielder, CBS Colorado
John Thomas Fielder Jr. ’68 (1950 – August 11, 2023): Alumnus of the Year (1994), renowned nature photographer, teacher, publisher, and environmentalist, John will always be #BucsforLife.
John's appreciation for the planet and desire to one day live in Colorado was sparked by his Middle School Teacher, Mrs. Hickman, who led a class trip to Estes Park in 1963. Years later, in 1972 after graduating from Duke University, John’s life dream came true as he moved to Colorado to later become the state's most famous nature photographer.
For over 50 years, John captured the beauty of the Rocky Mountain’s vast 124,000 square miles of wild landscapes. Channeling his personal grief and focusing on his favorite work “perspective,” John’s hope for his photographs was bigger than just beauty. His wish was that his photos, in his own words, “be used productively, scientifically, and effectively to save lives as we combat global warming.”
Bison below the Sangre de Cristo Mountains Medano-Zapata Ranch, Alamosa Country - John Fielder
In January, John donated his life’s work to History Colorado and the people of Colorado. Through this generous gift, John’s mission was for these photographs documenting 28 mountain ranges, 44 federal wilderness areas, and 11 national forests, in addition to other landscapes, parks, ranches, and trails, influence people and legislation to protect our natural and rural environments.
“Humanity will not survive without the preservation of biodiversity on Earth, and I have been honored to use my photography to influence people and legislation to protect our natural and rural environments,” John said in a bylined opinion piece published in The Denver Post. “I am humbled that these photos have spurred the passage of the 1992 Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund Initiative and Congress’ Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 among other land protection projects across the state that I love.”
Aspen Forest Sunrise Pan - John Fielder
Colorado Governor Jared Polis agreed, releasing a statement that included “His unique talent and work allowed him to showcase our state to millions across the world, and he will be dearly missed.”
Our Country Day community is honored and humbled to have recognized John as one of our Alumnus of the Year at the 1994 Honorary Alumni Association Dinner. He will be remembered for his charisma, charm, talent, perspective, and drive to preserve our beautiful planet.
John Fielder, Country Day Archives
To learn more about John’s vast impact visit:
Colorado nature photographer John Fielder dies at age 73 of cancer (denverpost.com)
Beauty, pain shape life of John Fielder, Colorado's famous nature photographer | Lifestyle | gazette.com
John Fielder leaves legacy for all Coloradans to enjoy after 50 years of capturing beauty of Rocky Mountains - CBS Colorado (cbsnews.com)