Nebraska's Rivers From Above (Hardcover)

Nebraska's Rivers: From Above is a stunning aerial photography collection showcasing the beauty, scale, and diversity of Nebraska's waterways through drone imagery by photographer Mark Dahmke. From the braided channels of the Platte River to the rugged valleys of the Niobrara, the sweeping bends of the Missouri, and the quiet prairie streams that shape the landscape, this book offers a rare bird's-eye perspective of the rivers that define the Cornhusker State. Captured across changing seasons, water levels, and weather conditions, each image reveals patterns, colors, and landscapes rarely seen from the ground. More than a photography book, Nebraska's Rivers also highlights the history, geography, wildlife, and cultural importance of these waterways. Readers will discover how rivers shaped settlement, agriculture, migration routes, recreation, and ecosystems across the Great Plains. Perfect for Nebraska residents, history enthusiasts, conservationists, travelers, and lovers of landscape photography, Nebraska's Rivers: From Above is both a visual journey and a tribute to one of America's most overlooked natural treasures.

Features:

• Spectacular full-color aerial photography
• Major Nebraska rivers including the Platte, Missouri, Niobrara, Elkhorn, Republican, Loup, Big Blue, and more
• Informative captions and regional history
• Ideal coffee table book or gift for Nebraska fans

I was born in Columbus, Nebraska and grew up in Osceola. In 1971 we moved to David City, where I graduated from David City High School in 1975. My interest in photography began in the 1960s starting with a Kodak Instamatic and later my Dad's Beseler Topcon 35mm SLR. In high school I took pictures for the school newsletter and yearbook. I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with an interest in Electrical Engineering and later switched to Computer Science. In the early 1980s I was a Consulting Editor at BYTE Magazine and wrote several books on microcomputer operating systems. While building a software development business in the 1990s, I used my photography skills in advertising and marketing. After we sold the business in 2015 I returned to freelance consulting, including fine art and commercial photography.I specialize in landscape photography, mostly of my two favorite places - Nebraska and Hawaii. I've also experimented in other media, including AI, electronics and digital painting. In 2016 I collaborated with encaustic artist Margaret Berry on a work named "Fireflies in the Cornfield," which combined Margaret's encaustic technique with computer-controlled backlighting, designed to mimic a day-night cycle, with the addition of LED fireflies. Starting in 2014 I began to explore the possibilities of incorporating aerial drone photography into my work. I acquired the FAA Part 107 commercial remote pilot certification in late 2016. In 2024, artist Steven DeLair and I collaborated on a project involving macrophotography and hidden landscapes, which lead to a two-man show at Wallspace: LNK in November, 2024. In my drone photography, close-up and macro photography, I take a very scientific approach to image sharpness using various digital techniques, while at the same time staying true to the original image.