Weaver

When we dream, the mind takes us elsewhere. Some scenes can be familiar enough to recognize while others enter the surreal. It’s rare for us to realize how strange a dream really is until after we wake. We go along for the ride and embark on the fleeting journeys. Dreaming is the only way I can describe my experience of exploring Olympic National Park. 

The park's landscape is massively diverse, to say the least. It resides in the western part of Washington state on a large peninsula. The total landmass within the park's borders reaches nearly a million acres. Its geographic location features a rocky coastline, temperate rain forest, montane forest, and snow-capped peaks - all of which make Olympic a beautiful landscape. 

As I hiked through areas of the park I was struck by its visual wonder but also a sense of familiarity. The trees and mountains reminded me of New England, where I live, but on a seemingly much larger scale. Blueberries, ferns, and wildflowers could be found by the trailside. All were similar to species I had already photographed in the region I call home. Recognizing home while hiking in a totally new landscape contributed to the dream-like state of the adventure. 

Capturing this sense of dreaming was a driving force in the creation of a book for the work. Each chapter starts and ends with a soft-focus photograph, invoking a descent into sleep. Within each chapter, I explore each type of landscape using color transparency film, which produces saturated colors and deep shadows. The arrangement will allow you to experience the unique beauty of the landscape and tie it all together in a single work. 

Come dream with me.