IDAHO NATURE CONSERVANCY LANDS PROJECT
Several years ago I became interested in the possibility of photographing the various private holdings of land that the Idaho Nature Conservancy owns. The Nature Conservancy has acquired over 16,000 acres of properties in Idaho and aided in the protection of over 100,000 additional acres throughout the state. In 1994, I arranged to photograph their properties and many of those that they have assisted in protecting, seventeen in all. I found that these sites, both large and small, were enchanting and unique. I began what has become a long-term project in which I am documenting these unspoiled places, sharing their beauty with the world, and encouraging others to join in their preservation.
My objectives in photographing these properties are threefold. First, as an artist I seek to capture both the intimacies and grandeur of these lands. I approach the landscape in a formal manner, seeking to create my own unique vision. These properties are not all large in scale. Some are as small as one acre, however, the visual interest of these "pockets of paradise" is equal to that of places set aside publicly for their scenic value.
My second objective is the documentation of place. I photograph to record and acknowledge these places in time. I believe the significance of what the Nature Conservancy is accomplishing is of a historical value and should be preserved.
Lastly, I hope to use my imagery to promote and encourage the continued support of organizations like the Nature Conservancy and their conservation efforts. Increasingly the federal and state governments are doing less to provide for concerns such as habitat protection and personal (re)creation. The Nature Conservancy is an organization that is picking up where these agencies are falling short.
