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Sonoma County Wild Photography by Jerry Dodrill

Ceylan Karasapan Crow

Jerry Dodrill is exhibiting his amazing Photography depicting vistas of "Sonoma County Wild"" at the Laguna Foundation's Heron Hall, through May 5, 2020.

"Jerry Dodrill is an adventurer and award-winning photographer who has traveled to remote corners while questing for wild experiences." ~ Justin Black

I called Jerry to ask him about his photographs and his love of the land, mountain climbing and trail hiking. He replied 'there is a parallel between my mountain climbing snd hiking and my art", just as he seeks areas to hike and climb that have not been explored or scaled before, so in his photography he searches for vistas not captured before of places many have photographed before. "I always take new routes and capture untaken photos" he mused. He is an explorer and seeker of new horizons, as it were. His immediate response to my query about his dedication to conservation and the environment was "Recreation is a gateway to conservation. Once you experience a place and become intimate with it then you are naturally inclined to take stewardship of it." I could hear in his voice a lightness and grounded contentment that are reflected in his beautiful art work. The work is stunning but rather than strike me once it slowly pulled me in, with a feeling of awe at the beauty of nature and somehow lead me to feel and wonder about the mystery that is the universe. Gazing at his photos was a vey spiritual meditative experience foer me. It's quite a journey and I highly recommended you go and meditate on these his windows into the wild. The Sonoma wild...

More info From Laguna foundation website :

Artist Statement

The photographs here are expressions of a lifetime of outdoor adventures in Sonoma County. I’ve been blessed to spend countless hours cycling, running, rock-climbing and paddling with friends since I was a boy. With each drive to a trailhead, each footstep, hand-hold, pedal or paddle stroke, I build a deeper relationship with the place I call home. Meanwhile, the artist’s eye constantly scans the landscape searching for meaningful observations and juxtapositions that represent the experiences and natural truths I’ve come to know. From the rocky coast to the muddy San Pablo Bay, Russian River, Mayacamas Mountains, and lofty slopes of Mount St. Helena, Sonoma County has an unparalleled level of visual and ecological diversity. The camera is a silent companion that lets me record and share special moments which unfold as unexpected gifts, or as the result of much planning and pre-visualization. The exhibit is a celebration of the wild country that surrounds us and an appreciation for those who work tirelessly to preserve our natural environment.

Artist Biography

"Jerry Dodrill is an acclaimed landscape and adventure photographer who studied fine art at Pacific Union College (Bachelors Fine Art, 1997) and assisted legendary California photographer Galen Rowell before launching his own career in 2000. Jerry’s images have been widely published in books and magazines. As a climber he has scaled most of the major walls in Yosemite and traveled extensively. He leads photography workshops and expeditions for Visionary Wild, sharing what he calls a “story-forward” approach to image making. Jerry was a co-founder of the Santa Rosa based camera bag company MindShift Gear, is on the Boards of the B-Rad Foundation and Rock Ice & Mountain Club. He lives in and works from his studio in Bodega.

Visit this beautiful exhibit in Heron Hall at the Laguna Environmental Center, 900 Sanford Road (at the corner of Occidental Rd. and Sanford Rd.), Santa Rosa. The Laguna Environmental Center is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm, but because of the variety of hall uses during the week, please call ahead to make sure you can view the art (707-527-9277).

More info on his Website: https://jerrydodrill.photoshelter.com/about

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