“The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those who sang the best."  John James Audubon

The diversity of birds and their habitats amazes me.  From the stealthy shrewdness of a gray hawk to the melodious tunes of a tiny warbler they all play a vital role in nature.  They propagate seeds, control insect and rodent populations, and feed on carrion.  Their wings provide their own tunes as they take off and land and their songs range from shrill and ominous to sweet and harmonious.  I've traveled Canada and the US to view these incredible creatures and am astounded most every day by their beauty.

"This land is your land.  This land is my land.  From California to the New York Islands.  From the Redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters. This land was made for you and me."  Woody Guthrie

Through luck and good fortune, I have had the privilege to travel the highways and byways of the US and beyond.  I am amazed, stunned and awed by the majesty of our planet.  And at times saddened that even those who live near a national park do not visit.  While living in Montana, I met people in Billings who had never been to Glacier National Park, a beautiful seven hour drive, and worse yet, had not been to Yellowstone National Park since childhood.  A mere two hour drive.  

Nature heals us.  The sights and sounds calm our nervous system and help us escape our day to day lives.  Seeing a bison with a calf or a mountain goat on a rock ledge are not daily occurrences and those experiences create lifetime memories.  

I encourage you to head outside.  Even if it is your own backyard.  Look at your realm with a new perspective.  A different vantage point.  Are the leaves changing color?  Is the air dry and crisp or sultry and humid?  What beauty can you uncover right there?  A bee pollinating the flowers or a caterpillar in a chrysalis.  There are over 50 National Parks in the United States.  Could there be one close to you?

We offer one photography/hiking trip a year to Glacier National Park.  For more information, please contact me at 406-839-3953 or via email at lori@thedashjourney.com

"To photograph truthfully and effectively is to see beneath the surfaces and record the qualities of nature and humanity which live or are latent in all things."  Ansel Adams
 

Everywhere I look I see a landscape.  Vast expanses dotted with reflected clouds and the magical dance of light and shadow.  Landscapes are woven of grass and meadows.  Of cows and mist.  They are layers of texture of rough-sided barns and autumn leaves.  The contrast of a cerulean blue sky against the breath of a cloud.  Our world is one landscape after another after another.  So many that we lose track of them and they become mundane and insignificant.  Take an afternoon to check out your own hills and dales, lakes and streams, urban sidewalks and blacktop.  Trust me…there is a landscape photo waiting there for you.

"Farm Aid works year-round to build a system of agriculture that values family farmers, good food, soil and water, and strong communities. Our annual concert celebrates farmers, eaters and music coming together for change."  Willie Nelson

My "classic training" in photography focused on environmental portraiture…photographing people in their natural everyday surroundings to evoke the true spirit of the subject.  It was considered avant grade at the time.  After all, I'm old enough to remember Woodstock, the Who, Bob Dylan, and Pete Seeger.  Which is why I am so committed to Farm Aid…the music, the people, the mission.  I have been blessed to be a selected photographer to get up close and personal to the musicians and listen to their message:  assisting family farmers so that this longstanding American tradition does not become obsolete and give way to factory farming.  These are generations of farmers struggling to stay afloat.  As a resident of Vermont I have a tremendous respect for those that work the land. Long days often give way to short profits.  

From a photographic perspective, seeing a musician so passionate about their music that the audience and the photographer are just part of the background is inspirational.  It invites me to dig deeper into my own craft.  To create for my own pleasure and fulfillment.  

Ansel Adams once said, "No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions and to build confidence in the creative spirit." It holds true for all creative arts, music and photography included.

If you would like to schedule a portrait session, please contact me at 406-839-3953.  My rates are reasonable and my passion is vast.