TAHOMA • WASHINGTON
Artist Proof 45 • 495 Limited Edition
TAHOMA
The trip to the mountains, intended for wildflowers, was met with cold rain and snow. The forecast was inaccurate. While common sense and the lure of a warm fire called to others, a different summons was answered—the quest for a photograph.
Day one was a frigid, upward slog. The gear was soaked, the body numb, and every gust of wind felt like an insult. But in that misery, a revelation came. The sight of scurrying ground squirrels brought warmth, and then the piercing cry of a marmot cut through the storm. Their call sounded like the rhythm of a constant wave, a peaceful note in the chaos. In that instant, the cold and exhaustion were forgotten. Feeling like an observer in their world of survival and adaptability, gave perspective.
The glacier was reached, but the weather never broke. The expected glorious sunset was replaced by a darkening chill, and the decision was made to turn back.
After a few hours of uneasy sleep in the truck, before the sun rose, only more fog and cold were found. The mountain was ascended again, following the unseen sound of rushing water. It was a shot in the dark, setting up the camera for a view that couldn’t be seen near the cascade that I saw the day prior, but I had to trust my instincts.
Suddenly, the sky tore open. The fog began to vanish, revealing a stunning panorama of sunlight breaking through and illuminating the mountain and valley below. The initial shots were a failure. It was the longer exposures that truly captured the moment, turning the moving fog and river into a serene scene.
In that profound stillness, the reason for being there was found. For those precious moments, surrounded by overwhelming beauty, peace and silence, made the hardship worthwhile.
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