"I have always felt it was worse to never do something because I was afraid to do it, then to do it and fail." Pat Toth-Smith
California artist Pat Toth-Smith, is a fine art Wildlife/ Nature Photographer with more than 20 years of professional experience, her photos have sold in numerous markets, prestigious galleries and hundreds of fine art shows and festivals in the west. “I became an award winning author when my book Wild Among Us: true adventures of a female photographer who stalks bears, wolves, mountain lions and other elusive wildlife won the USA’s best book award, a gold medal in the Living Now Awards and a bronze medal in the a e-Lit awards. In the summer of 2015, Pat was a guest on over 25 radio stations, including many NPR stations around the USA promoting her book. In 2018 she was a guest on Darlene Carmens’ cable TV show to discuss the success of her award winning book and her upcoming book.
“My photographs and stories are meant to help reestablish a connection with nature/wildlife and maybe inspire others to get out into the wilderness more often. When photographing, I try to capture the animal’s expressions with a bit of reverence and humor. Frequently, I am drawn to the overall aesthetic of a wildlife scene, not just the drama that may be occurring at its center. My focus is less about getting the action shot and more about making the wildlife feel comfortable in my presence. I try to convey the connection of the wildlife to its environment.”

Her award-winning book, Wild Among Us, and a sampling of her photographs are posted here; there are more in our gallery and in her own online store for purchase.