Scott Korsten
Web of Life (2024)
Canvas print

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. From its lush meadows and mountainous regions to its extreme geothermal areas. The 2.2-million-acre park is home to diverse wildlife and unique microorganisms alike. While most photos of Yellowstone document wildlife — wolves, bison, elk, fox, coyotes, and others – this image records lesser-known life found in the park known as thermophiles. It captures a diverse thermophilic community, with each color drawing shape and texture from a different form of microbe or bacteria, all banding together in support of the community. This microscopic tapestry is a visual representation of the beauty and resilience of life. Did you know that many of today’s food and medical breakthroughs can be traced to microbes and novel enzymes first discovered in Yellowstone? Perhaps there is a special thermophile growing in this very web of life that is yet to be discovered and will one day save lives.

Scott was a founding partner in Showplace Cabinetry. For more than two decades, Scott helped lead the South Dakota company into becoming one of the most successful and well-respected cabinetmakers in the nation. As a photographic artist, Scott takes pride in sharing the beauty of nature with others. Through his images, he hopes to inspire others to explore the world we live in and to appreciate its amazing wonders.

Scott lives in Sioux Falls with his wife Marilyn, who not only shares a deep love of nature, but also brings her artistic vision and talents to the compositional processing and curating of each image. Together, they strive to create images that are beautiful, thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant. Their goal is to take viewers on a journey through the natural world, to help them see and experience nature in a more personal and intimate way while also inspiring them to protect and preserve it for future generations.