Northern New Mexico Greeting Cards

Mona Makela has expressed her passion for art all her life. Her art education began early in Helsinki, Finland where she attended the Waldorf School, an alternative education focused on the development of individual creativity, which profoundly influenced her. Mona was fascinated with her first camera at the age of six and has worked on the field of photography since 1986. She has also expressed herself through fiber arts, oil painting and as a jeweler.

Before becoming a full-time photographer Mona worked in Finland as a Research Assistant and later as an Assistant Meteorologist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, and as an Environmental Engineering Field Technician in the United States. At the age 15 Mona flew sailplanes solo under instructor’s supervision before acquiring sailplane pilots license at the age of 16 and a single engine pilots license a year later at the age of 17. 

Mona has demonstrated her community spirit in her effort to establish a community organization in her rural small village in Taos County in order to bring broadband internet connection to the area, which finally started streaming in September 2009. She also initiated the effort to bring public transportation to the area and the first scheduled bus picked up passengers in March 2015.

Since 2005 she has dedicated herself to photography full time. Out of 26,000 entries, her photo, “Morning Greeting,” was a finalist in the Smithsonian Magazine's second annual photo contest. Her photograph of John Suazo's sculpture was selected as the cover feature for Mr. Suazo's 30 year retrospective at the Harwood Museum of Art in New Mexico, and her photo of the Newspaper Rock in Canyonlands, Utah has passed through the hands of President Obama in the Federal Executive Order Report to the President.

Casting her eye on a grand arena of subjects and shooting for perfection, where they have illustrated articles and been utilized for advertisement. Publications include US News and World Report, Women's Health Today, Ralph Lauren Magazine, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Organic Lifestyle Magazine, Publication by The US Immigration and Naturalization Office, New Mexico Magazine, Taos News, Fashion (book), Home and Garden Magazine, Wild Weather (book), The Independent (British daily newspaper), Eucalyptus Magazine, Publication by The Royal Society of Chemistry, ABC News in Science, Verizon Wireless website, Mother Earth News, Revealing Invisible Truths in America's Soul (book), Publication by Martha Stewart Omni Media, USA Today, Publication by Capital One Bank, PBS Nova, Research EU by European Commission and many others. Chasing the light to capture ideal landscape photos, Mona's tireless dedication has rewarded her with brilliant images, which she also sells as fine art prints.