What’s the old adage about best laid plans? Yeah, that can truly explain my summer. My spring was spectacular both photographically and adventures. It looked as though my summer would be as good if not better. But as I sit here with the leaves beginning to turn golden with a chilly nip in the breeze, I look back at the summer and wonder what happened. So many plans - nights sleeping under the stars, trails to explore, photographs to be created - and not much actually happened. In fact, a few things took a turn for the weird.

My sister’s and my annual July trip had to make a few last minute changes. We were to complete a loop hike I had been dreaming of for years, but the lingering snow made us change our plans for a thru hike from the Solduc to the Bogachiel and out Rugged Ridge. Hot days, dry creeks, new medication, and a couple of nasty bee stings made the hike a little unpleasant. On top of that, the day before we left, I had to say good-bye to my beloved Zillah who was 16 and started having seizures. I had hoped the days hiking under the trees would help my healing - maybe it did or maybe the hurt from losing Zillah cast a pall over the trip.

Then, the day I return from that trip, I find out through a DNA test that the man who raised me is not my father. I always had a strained relationship with my father. He was the man who taught me to love photography. He was also the man who taught me to hate myself. I’ve come a long way in reconciling my feelings for myself but not him. Although so much of my childhood can be seen with a new light, what he did to me and what he said to me is unforgivable. I am looking for clues who my biological father is - what I really want though is the story behind my mother and him. For mom, her secret died with her 35 years ago.

To be honest, I keep saying I’m ok, but I don’t think I am. The rest of my summer seemed to dim after that. My sis and I attempted a 10-day backpack only to decide to head out early when we realized the trip may be too ambitious, especially after Kristi hurt herself on the trip in July. I did create a video on that trip and our decision to come out early. Our Labor Day trip was canceled for fire danger, weather, and health reasons. My weekends not adventuring felt like a bust as my car was totaled after an accident in December.

One bright light was renting a car to watch the canoes land along the north coast of the Olympics, the home of the Elwha, for Canoe Journey 2023. Canoe Journey takes place as members of the coastal tribes (and even some inland tribes) journey from their home waters to the waters of the hosting tribe. This year the final landing was hosted by the Muckleshoot with the landing at Alki. All of the journey is completed in mostly traditional canoes. The above image was made at Alki. The canoe was pulled by an all woman crew while the captain was the man who hand carved the canoe. I was touched by their strength and beauty - you can see the pride for their heritage in their eyes. The red handprints are for remembrance and justice for missing and murdered indigenous women.

This brings me to our photo lesson of the quarter. While photographing events like this one, it is always expected that you treat your subjects with respect. We look for emotional scenes. Subjects that show emotion or their interaction tells an emotional story. This allows your viewer to make a connection with your subjects and their story. Sometimes we find people in a very vulnerable state, a state that shows a lot of emotion. This is where we have to ask ourselves, why are we creating this image? Is it for social media likes? Is it to take advantage of the people in the vulnerable state? Is it to ridicule or demean? If you say yes to any of these, then please put the camera away. Your only answer is to uplift the person and their story. Becoming a student in their story will help connect your viewer to who your subjects are and why their story is told.

By the way, I have a new car (his name is Sam, a loyal and constant companion to my adventures) and I’m about to head into autumn adventures. I’m still working on myself and the feelings I have around my dad/not-dad and I’m hoping the cool air and some sweet photo adventures will help me through my funk. No more backpacks are planned this year, but I do have a couple of hikes to knock out (one to a lighthouse) and before we know it snow will be coating the mountains. This will be the year I buy skis and now that I have a new adventure vehicle, I expect to get out more often.

Thank you for sticking by me and I’ll see you on the next adventure.