One of the hardest things I've ever had to do as a photographer was to write an artist's statement. Looking into oneself to answer these questions:

"Why do I photograph?"
"Why do I photograph the subjects I photograph?"
"What do I want the viewer to take away from my photograph?"
"What am I trying to say as a photographer?"

Heavy thoughts. Even as an introvert I found the contemplation of my photography a daunting task.

Throughout my life, I have found myself pursuing then retreating from photography. As a child it was a bond between my father and I - a tenuous bond, but at least he seemed to like me when we were out photographing mountains & trees. As a teen, I retreated to photography after being informed several times I was not smart enough to be a marine biologist or even to go to college - at least I could take pictures. I became lost to myself in college and married a jealous student photo-journalist and I put away the camera to keep the peace when I excelled where he did not. Later after the divorce, I picked it up again as a hobby to record my adventures and the beauty I witnessed in the world around me.

It wasn't until several years later when I was once again questioning who I was and what I wanted out of life that I realized the place I'm happiest is behind my camera. Sharing the experiences I was having through film and sensor. But it wasn't just my story I wanted to share, but the story of the place I explored and would come to love.

Each subject for me, speaks to me. Tells me of its wonder and brilliance. It is an intimate discussion that I've gotten lost in. I've allowed it to envelope me. Consume me. Its made me oblivious of time, weather, sound.

And it is this translation of the conversation I hope the viewer sees.

Vision in Delirium

When my boss called in with the flu at the beginning of the year, I should have gone immediately for my flu shot. But I put it off. I knew it was going around. And I knew it was a nasty one.

So this past week I spent my time either in bed or on the couch. Cancelled my great weekend plans. And daydreamed about all the wonderful places I had been and places to go.

I smiled at the memories of shared adventures with friends, knowing they are the adventure buddies I can count on for future travels.

The weekend prior to my bedridden week, 3 of my buddies & I decided to snowshoe to the Big Four Ice Caves along the Mountain Loop Highway. A popular destination in the summer as it's an easy day hike for families becomes a stunning snowshoe in the winter. The cliff area of the ice caves can be very dangerous - in recent years there have been several accidents and at least one death from avalanches falling even in the later summer months. But it's the avalanches that create the ice caves. And the popularity of area has not diminished even with the dangers.

Our plan was to snowshoe from where the road is closed to just beyond the bridge over the Stillaquamish River. The snow pack for the day was pretty stable, but this area can be highly unpredictable so we decided to stay in the trees and not head up into the plateau at the base of the cliff.

The day was gorgeous. Blue skies and freezing temps. We were bundled up against the cold but wearing sun screen & sunglasses - always a great combination on a winter day. I love seeing the bright white of ice and snow against the blue Washington skies.

The road travels along the river in the trees with glimpses of the mountain peaks around the valley. We stopped often for pictures and to chat and then started again as the cold seeped through our many layers of clothing. And it was COLD! The moisture in the air had frozen along the river and coated everything in a feathery layer of hoar frost. At times it looked fantastical.

After we stopped briefly at the picnic shelter for lunch, we started out for the river through a marsh area. If we thought the hoar frost along the river was fantastical, the hoar frost here was other-worldy. It spread out like fern fronds inches from the snow & branches. It was a vision worth remembering.

The open air and views, the snow and sky, the walk and friends all worthy of reminiscing and thinking forward

Creativity Lesson

Try this for a creativity challenge - a Scavenger Hunt.

I've participated in scavenger hunts since a I was a kid. Who didn't enjoy teaming up with friends to figure out clues to get to the final prize. Even an introvert like me enjoyed the game because I was allowed to work out puzzles and apply the results.

A few years ago I participated in my first photo scavenger hunt while at a retreat on the northern Olympic Peninsula. It was fun, but seemed more clinical - take a photo of a deer, take a picture of lavender. Each could be construed in a creative manner according to the photographer, but I was really just collecting images to try & win. I participated in a few after that, but never really felt challenged to explore my creativity.

This past weekend, I partook in another photo scavenger hunt. For this one we were given destinations and were told to photograph the area keeping in mind to look for images that show the area as a tourist destination. We again hit the peninsula but traveled with specific destinations. Each photographic team arrived at each destination about the same time but we each had to create our own vision withing the parameters of the task.

Here are a few of my images from the day.

Tacoma Dome Station, Tacoma WA

Gig Harbor, WA 

Port Orchard, WA

 Chief Sealth's Gravesite, Suquamish, WA

 Story Wall, Bainbridge Island, WA

A Second Look

I shoot a lot while hiking. While I enjoy looking for that scene I might have in my mind, setting up the shot and waiting for the light sometimes I just need to shoot and run. Something about a scene grab my attention and I "grab and go."

This type of photography doesn't always lend itself to a carefully shot image. Or to working a scene - taking images from different angles, shutter speeds and apertures for the best composition.

Nor am I able to set up the tripod and take multiple exposures to blend together later in HDR software.

I also will apply this "grab and go" style to editing my images. If it grabs me as I sift through the images, it gets to stay. If not, then into the trash bin it goes.

But every now & then an image deserves a second look. The two images here have different stories, but each was given a second chance much to my appreciation.

1. On Gold Creek Pond, Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

While hiking through what was left of an early season snow around Gold Creek Pond, located near Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, I meandered down by the lake shore. It wasn't a particularly spectacular day for landscapes as the clouds were thick in the trees just above the trees. I was primarily shooting intimate nature portraits in the even light. There were a lot of opportunities for colorful leaves with a dusting of snow. I almost didn't take this picture as the light was flat - no features in the low clouds beyond. But the shape made by the near perfect reflection was attractive. Later as I processed the image I let the sky go white to highlight the shape of the reflection in the water.

2. Grassy Log in Nada Lake, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

On my trip to the Enchantments this past October, my friends & I stayed at Nada Lake on our way in. In the morning light fell on this log out in the lake but the hill behind was still in shadow. It was such an interesting log with grass and shrubbery growing on it. I knew there was a picture in there somewhere so I took a few shots as did my companions. But as I looked at it on my computer I wasn't as thrilled as I had been when I first saw the log in the morning light. But I hesitated when I highlighted the image to throw away. I decided to crop it and darken the background enough to lose the shadowy detail that had been captured.

Every now and then, an image or a scene is worth taking a second, third or even fourth look. You might find magic in there.

Top 10 Images 2012

I'm not normally one to follow the crowd. Yet as I read articles and blogs looking back at what transpired over the past year, I started to think about my year. I set out to work on my photography business - Focus on Photography is what I called it. And I worked on the business, made progress and feel more comfortable with where I stand.

I believe I have a good solid base to reach out to the journey ahead.

This past year I started out on the Oregon Coast & ended up in the Enchantments. I tackled a fear and practiced my portraiture. Entered a couple of contests and won a few, even having an image printed in a calendar. A new camera came into my life to help me explore my creativity. I hiked new trails & visited some old faves and explored the wondrous world around me.

To look back on my year, I see more accomplishments than set-backs which says I had a pretty good year. Finding just 10 images was extremely hard.

So here are my favorite images from 2012. What were yours?

1. Cafe Campagne, Post Alley, Seattle, WA

2. Seaweed, Cape Alava, Olympic National Park, WA

3. Justin, Portrait 

4. Prusik Peak in Gnome Tarn, The Enchantments, Wenatchee-Okanagen National Forest, WA

5. Agnes Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta

6. Canoe, Lake O'Hara, Yoho National Park, Alberta

7. Winter Solitude, Gifford Pinchot National Park, WA

8. Forest Trail in the Fog, Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, WA

9. Radishes and Green Onions, Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA

10. Snowy Owl, Boundary Bay, BC

I look forward to sharing an adventurous 2013 through words & images.