Recognition: Our Forests in Focus Photo Contest
June has been quiet. Relatively speaking, of course. Plenty of hiking, some kayaking, and a couple of weekend trips. But in terms of photography it has mostly been casual snapping on trail or playing around with the Z fc in random places. That camera, by the way, is still a blast to shoot with. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the adventures ahead in July and August (and beyond). I was struggling to think of what to write about this month, but I suppose one cool thing did happen… American Forests announced their Our Forests in Focus photo contest winners for 2024, and I was thrilled that my photo took the Forest Landscapes category.
As some of you may know, there are a few photo contests I jump on each year, but never with any real expectation. It’s mostly just fun to see how my stuff stacks up and what other photographers might have their eyes on. A couple of them have led to some cool recognition - with the Appalachian Mountain Club specifically - but this award from American Forests hit me pretty hard because the categories allowed me to pore through a wider collection than the AMC contest, which is understandably more regional focused. And I’m really happy they selected one of photos from Glacier National Park. That’s easily the series I’m most proud of. There were some very early mornings (or late nights, depending on your perspective) to get some of the shots I left that trip with. The more work you put into a photo, the more you appreciate it. But, of course, the photo they selected from my submissions was one I didn’t expect.
For context, this was taken on the Gunsight Pass Trail late morning in the dead middle of that trip. Yes, it was a hike that started before dawn. And yes, it was a full day out on the trail in a particularly remote area of the park. But it wasn’t a shot I planned. It was on the return trip of an out-and-back hike to Gunsight Lake that this scene unfolded. I happened to already have my 70-200 on my Z 6II and noticed the sun (finally) poking through the clouds and haze. I let myself pause for a few moments watching the light move, when - on sheer luck - it landed on this waterfall only seconds later. I took the snap, and continued on with barely a second thought about it.
So I guess the lesson learned is to remember subjectivity and objectivity with photography. To an extent. I will always take the photographs that I want to take. I will always print and hang the photographs that I am most proud of. But there is a key detail about those choices: I was there. I remember the process. I remember the environment. The energy. The awe. All of the that undoubtably translates in those photos for me. But there are also times where you may want or need to have a certain impact on an audience and won’t be able to literally put them in that place and time to do so. What does a photograph do in and of itself? Since this announcement I have revisited my impressions of this scene and my attitude about it has changed as a result. I now look at it as a photo that pulls a viewer right in, leveraging both its sense of drama and solitude. It manages to convey both the energy and calmness of our natural world. Now, does this mean I have a new favorite photo from Glacier? Absolutely not. But it does mean I have one more in my portfolio that I’m especially proud of. And that’s even better.
As for my actual favorite Glacier photo? Well, that would be this one…
