Nature – Blom Photography

4 totems – fire, earth, water, wind – by Curtis Dickie

Published on August 29, 2022 by Blom PhotographyLeave a comment

In July 2022 I paired with Northern Rockies Art Council and Curtis Dickie of the Kwakwaka’wakw and Dene people and living in Fort Nelson B.C.

Curtis was carving four totems – fire, earth, water, and wind – for Hudson’s Hope school longhouse. For an article of the project see https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/regional-news/hudsons-hope/hudsons-hope-longhouse-taking-shape-5672597

Over the next few weeks I would visit Curtis as he was carving and take photos of the process from start to finish. We would sit and talk and discuss the trials and errors that went along with carving a totem out of Douglas fir – not the traditional cedar. Fir was used because it would be more hardy for the cold and wet weather in the northern part of B.C. , whereas red cedar is primarily found only in southern and coastal areas of western Canada and USA.

By the third week of August, the totems had to be completed, which gave only a month of carving. Curtis encountered a few hiccups along the way, with a couple pieces having large cracks, and one with several big knots in the section that was marked for carving. Adjustments to the design had to be made in order to fit the elements Curtis wanted for his design. He had to sacrifice some artistic elements in order to ensure the carving stayed together and didn’t break. Some elements in his carvings have hidden designs within the animal. Can you find the wise man, raven, and the fish hidden in two of the other figures? A few final embellishments were added like ’empty space’ behind arms (the wood is lifted off of the pole itself with free space behind it), and finishing nails for eyes.

Unfortunately, I was unable to be there on the final day to see ‘wind’ completed – I will need to make a trip out to Hudson’s Hope to see the finished building and all of the totems in place.

I want to say thank you to NR Art Council and Nancy for contacting me about this opportunity, and Mahsi Cho to Curtis for allowing me to share in documenting this beautiful carving process. I look forward to working with you again in the future!

Golden Sunrise in the Cold

Published on March 7, 2022March 2, 2022 by Blom PhotographyLeave a comment

In the morning glow, on a winding path, the golden lace billows in the icy air. Hundreds of tiny trees fade into the distance, the buttes grow into high mountain tops. The Rocky Mountains of the North rise from the flat lands on the East, and spindly trees in the South, before hitting a vast expanse to the North. Although close to people, you are also far away; it is part of living in the North that gives both excitement and loneliness.

Exploring Canada’s Beauty #reddress-series

Published on January 24, 2022January 18, 2022 by Blom PhotographyLeave a comment

#reddressseries

Bow Lake – Alberta’s Glass Lake.

To say that Bow Lake is beautiful is an understatement. Anyone who has seen photos or driven the Icefield Parkway themselves knows how captivating the drive is. From the moment you approach the rest stop, you see the mountains towering above Bow Lake; it reflects, like glass, the sky above, while somehow managing to stay absolutely frozen despite the subtle breeze. Maybe I was lucky and stopped at the right time, but I feel as though I have seen this lake in other years, just as still and pristine.

#reddressseries in July 2021 – Bow Lake Alberta

Bow Lake #reddressseries on a calm afternoon in July

Like many travelers before me, I wanted to stop at Peyto Lake (the brilliant turquoise lake seen in thousands of photos online that stands below a cliff viewpoint), but this lake was closed due to construction on a new parking lot, and also for CoVid. Bow Lake did not disappoint, however, and I found a moment to enjoy it in my #reddressseries that I made for clients to use in photo sessions with me — I can’t help it if I also enjoy dressing up in marvelous gowns and dresses for my own photo shoots.

What about you? Have you done a traveling photo shoot? What is your favorite place to travel? Comment below ~

It’s a little cold outside…

Published on January 10, 2022January 10, 2022 by Blom PhotographyLeave a comment

The nights are long in this small northern town in Canada; the long nights bring days where the sun barely skims the tops of our twig-like trees. The days are cold and will freeze the cells of your body within minutes. You must come prepared for what the land brings, and be ready for extremes.

Fort Nelson, British Columbia

Published on May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 by Blom PhotographyLeave a comment

A new adventure awaits in the North. Welcome to Fort Nelson and surrounding area on the Alaska Highway.

Winter Time

Published on December 10, 2017 by Blom PhotographyLeave a comment

It has become cold now. The leaves are gone and the snow has turned the pine trees into winter cacti; their bristles frozen and glistening white, like tiny swords ready for a fight. The true battle is not the snow, but the bitter cold. We have a long winter ahead of us and the storms have yet to blow through the mountain pass. Here are some photos to document the winter months.

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