Kristin

This photo was taken on a retreat to a lodge in eastern Washington with a large group of women. It was a girls' getaway weekend experience, complete with a mountain view, hot tub and a full service bar. There was sunshine by day and a chill in the air at night; there were stories to be told and bare feet to toast by the fire. There were peals of laughter, long walks and time alone to explore with my camera. This shot of Kristin was special to me. We were curious about the whereabouts of a wedding party we had seen posing for pictures on the lawn and went out in search of it; me the paparazzi and Kristin the hopeful wedding crasher. We only found a few hikers and a pavillion full of empty white chairs. I was playing with my lens baby that weekend and I had her sit down on a randow chair. The light was perfect. It works as a portrait of Kristin because there is genuine warmth and strength in it. She went looking for a throng of people and found herself, instead, swallowed up by a sea of empty chairs. She seemed to embrace the humor in the situation and appeared completely at ease. There is a subtle impression the photo leaves me with, something about her gaze in the direction of the setting sun that is both vulnerable and optimistic.