Welcome to the first HIWalkerPhoto newsletter!
In these quarterly newsletters you will find fun stories, random thoughts, photo tutorials, and updates in my quest to photograph our beautiful world and all who live in it.
The big news since the 1st of the year was my attendance at the Outsiders Photography Conference in Kanab, Utah. I had attended last year in April and had so much fun visiting the orange cliffs of southern Utah that when they opened registration for this year, I jumped at the chance to go again. During my trip last year, I explored Capitol Reef National Park. On my first ever trip to the Southwest, Capitol Reef was the 1st park I visited, and it continues to hold a special place in my heart. During my first visit I felt the solitude of the place. Last year was so different partially from the crowds and overlooks to the snow falling on me while hiking.
You can check out the video from the trip here.
This year’s trip included Bryce Canyon National Park. Another park I had visited before that also holds a special place in my heart (Yes, they all do). My goal this year was to hike into the canyon before sunrise to catch the morning glow on the hoodoos and canyon walls. I chose the trail – the Two Bridges Trail – so I wouldn’t be searching for a place in the dark, and boy, does it get dark in southern Utah. Imagine showing up to a dark parking lot and looking for a dark trailhead. Then imagine hiking down switchbacks into an even darker dark. Add ice and trauma from falling off a cliff just 8 months before and you have a shaking and frightened Heidi. Thankfully I remembered my Microspikes! Once I got those on my boots, I felt more comfortable – that and the sky was lightning up. I made it to my destination just as the cliffs began to lighten up.
Bryce Canyon at Sunrise
I spent the rest of the day exploring more of Bryce Canyon before heading to Kanab for the conference. The seminars were interesting, intriguing, and inspiring. The conference had barely started when I felt the itch to try new techniques and to comb through old photos for new possibilities. Now just to find the time as I keep creating new images.
Back home in Washington, I began gearing up for the backpacking season. First, by completing my physical therapy for my shoulder surgery. After my fall last July, I decided to try and lighten my backpack a bit – so picked up a lightweight jacket and an ultra-light tent. Thanks to my sister, I even scored a new lightweight backpack. I started hiking as much as possible to get into some semblance of condition - and yes, I took my camera to photograph the adventures and recorded video. The last weekend of March found me on the trail with some of my new gear for a trial run. I am happy to report the new tent and jacket worked perfectly – I will find out about the backpack later in April.
On the photography front, I have found a printer to work with – Coho Prints in Sammamish. I’m looking forward to getting prints to customers.
How’s the book you ask? Well, we’re not talking about that right now.
Upcoming Events:
April 16 – Teaching a street photography workshop through the Mountaineers. This is a new format for me where we meet on location and we work together in the field.
April 23-24 – My sister’s birthday backpack. We’ll be heading to a favorite location where I spent my birthday in 2020.
April 30-May 1 – A trip to the Columbia Gorge to research the Klickitat Trail for the book with a visit to the Portland Art Museum to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit.
May 6-8 – A backpacking trip up the Hoh River.
May 14 – Teaching a Forest Photography workshop for the Mountaineers. Again, the class meets in the field for a day of instruction.
May 21-22 – Co-leading a beginning Backpack in the North Cascades for the Mountaineers.
May 28-30 – A backpacking trip in the Olympics with my sister and friends.
June is still pretty open, but I am planning a backpacking trip to Wallace Lake for more book research.