My name is Forest, from Northern California though currently living in PNW. I got really into hiking and backpacking when I moved here. Finding solitude and beauty in the outdoors helps keep me balanced and clear-headed when I’m back in my day-to-day grind. The more time I spend in nature, the more energized I feel when I’m not. When I’m in the backcountry, I feel relieved of all the stress created by my work and home lives. There’s something humbling about backpacking, especially; there’s nothing quite like stripping down your life to the bare essentials, relying on your instincts, and sleeping under the stars.
My passion for photography definitely stems from my love for the outdoors. I’ve been a serious hiker and backpacker for over a decade, and for the longest time, I only used my phone to capture the moments. I recently bought my first mirrorless camera, and exploring photography more seriously has really pushed me to do even more hiking and backpacking than I had before. I have spent quite some days sleeping outside this Summer. I am lucky to be able to combine it flexibly with my work; as we only have about two months without everything being covered with snow, I try to go outside as much as possible in this period and work from wherever.
I usually just wander around for hours with my camera attached to my backpack, finding new angles and different compositions, which is the adventurous part. This is also because of the community of landscape photographers, I have tremendous respect for those who are able to push themselves, simply to get to certain locations, and it encourages me to do the same.
Besides photography, I am very into music. I compare sharing a photograph on social media to releasing a piece of music. I don’t feel like a song or album is truly complete until I’ve fine-tuned it to a piece that I’m fully satisfied with, and I physically release it into the world. For me, sharing my work on social media, Instagram specifically, feels like the final evolution of my photographs. After shooting and editing, it feels good to see the final product on display. I hope that my genuine love for the outdoors comes through in my photography, and that it encourages others to explore the outdoors, as I’ve been encouraged by others.
There are so many places I want to see in the world, not to mention in my own backyard! Though the thing that fascinates me the most about the PNW are the endless places to explore. I’ve lived out here for more then ten years and feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. If I had to give three places people should discover around Oregon & Washington, that would first be the Alphine Lakes Wilderness. You can find amazing mountain peaks and lakes; it can be tough, but it’s definitely rewarding. Then the Mountain Rainier, which is just beautiful all the time and very accessible. And finally, the Mount Hood area.
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