My name is Mike Matenkosky and I was born and raised in south-western Pennsylvania. While in the Boy Scouts, I developed an appreciation of, and love for, the outdoors. It was during this time that I received my first camera; a Kodak Instamatic. With this camera, I started to take pictures of my camping trips, as well as experimenting with realistic views of my plastic model cars.

The USAF brought me out to California in 1986. In 1990, I received orders for a one-year tour of King Salmon, Alaska. While stationed in Alaska, I purchased my first 35mm SLR camera; a used Minolta X570 with a few zoom lenses. Now, armed with a "real" camera, I began photographing my surroundings in Alaska.

In 1991, I was honorably discharged from the Air Force, and returned to California, where I married my wife, Stacy. Since then, we have had two daughters, Hannah and Sarah.

Now living 80 miles from Yosemite, I soon began to take an interest in backpacking. With the beauty of Yosemite all around me, I decided to get more serious about photography, and in January 2005 I bought my first DSLR, a Canon 300D. In September 2007, I upgraded to the full-framed Canon 5D.

During the summer of 2004, I began to experience joint pain in both of my knees. It has progressed to the point where I have been unable to walk without the use of a walker. This has prompted the first total knee replacement of my right knee in February, 2006. I've had some healing complications, and in October 2006 my hardware on my right knee has been removed. Two days later I suffered a mild stroke while still in the hospital. I'm better now, but I'm not a 'sharp' as I once was!

In August 2005 I had my first photograph published in BACKPACKER Magazine ®. Recently, the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service just published this photo on their 24-page brochure called "Initiative Areas of California, Nevada, and the Klamath Basin of Oregon.

In March 2008 I finally had my left knee removed and fused straight. So for now I'm using a walker until I can walk without help. Since mobility is an issue, most of my photographs have been taken while inside of the car or along the road.