Winter is Coming

Hi guys! Who else is already feeling ready for the holiday break? I can't wait - just over two weeks until Christmas at the cabin and about three weeks until my big West coast adventure. I'm so excited that I'll be traveling again for the holidays! This time, I'll be spending only a small amount of time in Arizona, and the majority of my trip in California. I always over plan for trips because I don't want to miss out on all the amazing things I can see. I've already come to the conclusion that this time around, I'm going to have to settle on the fact that I won't be able to see it all! Which is okay, that just means I'll have an excuse to come back in the future. 

I recently tried to explain the difference between the Northwest coast and Northeast. The first time I set foot in Washington state, I was overwhelmed by the GREEN of everything. Seas of pines and misty coastlines as far as the eye can see. Everything there felt so wild and unreal. The East coast has definitely given me some awe-inspiring moments, but I have to admit that we do lack the sheer scale of everything out west. It feels quieter and less surreal in my New York forests, but that's not to say they don't lack their own magic and beauty. They're the forests I grew up in, and I have genuinely loved getting to know and photograph them over the years. They're familiar to me, and with that, I have appreciated being able to share them with others. 

So, for this trip, I'm going into most of these environments as a total outsider. It can't be helped, it's all new terrain to me (which is so exciting!). It's how I felt the first time I roamed in the deserts and canyons in Arizona, and hiked in the mountains of North Carolina. For a split second, everything else fades away, and you're just left to take in this breathtaking view before you. That feeling is honestly what motivates me to constantly explore new places, and shoot as much as I can. I'm anxious to see the California wilderness, and for a future when I won't feel like an outsider in it, but a familiar visitor.

xo

J