Born in Solway, Minnesota, on October 27, 1942, Mel grew up in Minnesota and carried with him the values of hard work, curiosity, and perseverance. He attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and economics, and went on to complete his Ph.D. in Economics. Mel dedicated much of his professional life to education, teaching economics at several universities, including the University of North Dakota. He also worked with NASA at the Denver Research Institute, in Denver, Colorado, conducting research on how the agency’s space exploration efforts contributed to the development of commercial products—a role that reflected his love of discovery and science. In the latter part of his career, Mel became a respected and familiar face in journalism as a news reporter for KVLY (formerly KTHI) in Fargo. Over nearly 30 years, he was best known for The Stone Report, a personal interest news edition that gave voice to unique and inspiring stories. Mel often described journalism as using “words and pictures and sounds to tell someone a story.” Calling himself a “one man band,” he frequently ran the camera while also narrating and telling the story. His thoughtful approach and creative eye made him a trusted storyteller throughout the region. After retiring from journalism, Mel relocated to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he devoted himself to his passion for photography. He purchased and restored a historic adobe house and opened an art gallery there, where for 15 years he displayed his own work alongside the work of other artists. His gallery became a creative hub and reflection of his enduring love for art, perspective, and community.
October 27, 1942– October 2, 2025
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This image was made Martin Luther King Day, 2011 – I remember the date because I brought a visitor out to White Sands and found out it was free admission because of the holiday. The place was overrun with people. I went walking to the east to find pristine dunes. I turned around and saw the back-lite dunes and just a scattering of clouds and made the shot. Some people say it reminds them of a nude. https://www.lascrucesbulletin.com/stories/photographer-mel-stone-the-art-of-getting-the-shot-gallery-to-re-open-saturdays,4001
This image was made Martin Luther King Day, 2011 – I remember the date because I brought a visitor out to White Sands and found out it was free admission because of the holiday. The place was overrun with people. I went walking to the east to find pristine dunes. I turned around and saw the back-lite dunes and just a scattering of clouds and made the shot. Some people say it reminds them of a nude.
Quite a few years after shooting ‘Organ Sunset,’ I revisited my favorite dead tree… a few more branches gone, but still photogenic. When I showed up, there was another photographer on the scene, but when the sun set, he left; I didn’t. Then, the mountains and sky turned purple. Needless to say, I got the shot, he didn’t.
This was taken on a Sunday morning at the Doña Ana County Fairgrounds. The workers started to exercise the “rough stock” inside the pavilion, a terrible place to shoot because of the dark insides and open, bright walls or sides. But I was able to climb up by the announcers’ booth and avoid that bad light. I dubbed this “Indomitos” (untamed) only to be told by a Spanish expert you’d never call a horse indomito. Too late.
On a snowy, icy Saturday, I headed out on Dripping Springs Road to one of my favorite spots and took a photograph of the snow-capped Organs. I shot and processed the file in color, then decided to look at a black and white conversion.
