Jared Kreiss
Jared Kreiss is a travel photographer and filmmaker sharing wildlife, mountain landscapes, and life on the road, with roots in New Zealand and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Latest
Jared’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
YouTube
PBS
GuideOverview
- Work
- Travel, landscape, wildlife, and lifestyle photography; filmmaking
- Roots
- Born in New Zealand; moved to East Tennessee at age 12
- Base
- Boone, North Carolina, as stated in his July 2026 interview
- Started shooting
- 2017, according to his 2026 Blue Ridge Outdoors interview
- Early breakout
- A drone photograph of the U.S. 421 bridge over South Holston Lake went viral
- Recognition
- Winner of Blue Ridge Outdoors’ 2023 Cover Photo Contest
Mini bio
How it started.
Jared grew up in New Zealand before moving to East Tennessee at 12. He studied exercise science at East Tennessee State University and worked as a chiropractor’s assistant before selling his car and belongings to travel back to New Zealand. In a 2026 interview, he dated the start of his photography to 2017.
Finding an audience.
An early drone image of the U.S. 421 bridge over South Holston Lake spread from Instagram to Facebook and went viral locally. By 2023, his photograph of a bear family in Cades Cove had won Blue Ridge Outdoors’ Cover Photo Contest.
Behind the photographs.
His work brings together landscapes, wildlife, and travel. His Great Smoky Mountains wildlife guide shares locations, animal behavior, camera settings, and ethical photography practices. He also offers fine art prints and small-group photo tours around the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Keeping places real.
Nature protection is a recurring part of his work. Northeast Tennessee Tourism profiled his efforts to encourage responsible outdoor recreation in 2021. In 2026, Tennessee Tourism used his photographs in its Real Seal launch, a program intended to make destination photography easier to trust.
Creditschronological, newest first
Film and television
- 2026Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains | Cinematic Nature Film 4kCreator and filmmaker
- 2025Colors: Southern USA: Bristol – Appalachian HighFeatured photographer
- 2024One Month Since Hurricane Helene | Asheville, North CarolinaCreator and filmmaker
Photography
- 2026Tennessee Tourism: Yeah, It’s RealCredited photographer in the campaign launch announcement
- 2026Rainbow over South HolstonPhotographer; Blue Ridge Outdoors cover-contest finalist
- 2023Cades Cove bear-family photographPhotographer; Blue Ridge Outdoors cover-contest winner
Awards
Quotes
Create to remind people what is still real.Jared Kreiss, A Lens & The Wild
The statement introduces the mission behind his photography, stories, and newsletter.
Trivia
- His July 2026 interview lists the Sony a7R V as his camera.
- He spent more than 60 hours cycling around Cades Cove searching for wildlife before capturing his 2023 contest-winning bear-family photograph.
- Childhood hikes with his father in New Zealand helped build his love of nature.
- His YouTube channel description says he takes photos, goes on adventures, and lives in a van.
Find Jared
Follow Jared’s photographs, films, and adventures.
Are you Jared Kreiss?
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