Drifter's Escape // Photo Blog

“I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.”

— Georgia O'Keeffe

My approach to photography is a balance between hopefulness and carelessness. Each time I pull out my camera I hope I am seeing something lively and inspiring and true. I let myself breathe it in, appreciate the moment for what it is, possibly memorize the delicate ephemeralities.

By the time my finger reaches for the shutter button the experience has moved through and beyond my eyes, and the only responsibility left to me is to try not to worry about how the photo will turn out in the end.

And while I fear I might not be a good enough observer or a careless enough photographer to have captured the magic of my recent visit to the Sierra Mountain high country, I cannot help but hope that these photos give you a glimpse into the striking vulnerability and the endless stream of beautiful moments that cascaded out of the earth and into every pore of my being. The fierce determination and utter ambivalence of the place.

I hope these photos ignite your interest in the wild ruggedness of the Sierra Mountains.

I hope you give your body and your mind and your soul to the land.

I hope you know what it feels like to sleep 12,000 feet high in remote areas, under a stark and salt specked sea of midnight sky.

I hope you know the heartache and awe that strikes you when you walk through beautiful place that are not trampled with messy footsteps and trials, and riddled with spurious trash and man made fire rings.

And I hope you build the courage to get out there. But whether you do or do not, I hope you respect mama nature and treat her well. With our attention and care wild places, mountains and trees and species, can out live us in their mysteriousness and liveliness.

I know nothing living can last forever, but that will not stop me from hoping that the wildness of the Sierra’s will stretch into forever.