"Life is either a daring adventure
or nothing at all."

Helen Keller

I first discovered a passion for taking pictures at age 21 when I purchased a Ricoh 35 mm camera and enrolled in a photography class.  The stark beauty and contrast of black and white images moved me.  I learned the mechanics of equipment, light, content and film development and threw myself wholeheartedly into the craft for a short while, until life "got in the way."  For the next 20 years I traveled the path of marriage, motherhood and the daily 9 to 5 grind in one office setting after another.  I shot hundreds of images during this time with content reflecting my every day life, but creativity eluded me.  After a divorce and the demands of a full-time career and single motherhood, I stopped taking pictures altogether for almost eight years.

Little did I know what the Universe had in store!  The next leg of my journey led me to an exceptional island community just north of Seattle, where I began a slow healing from a lifetime of struggle.  Miraculous moments soon became the norm, so it was no surprise when a group of friends invited me to participate in a book club on "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, which resulted in one spiritual breakthrough after another.  It had become increasing evident that I could no longer continue living life the same way.  I felt stunted and trapped, dying a slow and painful emotional death.

In 2008, I received a digital camera for my birthday.  That long-dormant passion was immediately rekindled and took on a life of its own!  I began shooting images which completely blew me away.  I had been blessed with the gift of experiencing the world through a new set of eyes, a total rebirth of perspective.  The result is the images you see today. 

I hope you are moved and inspired, as it is an absolute honor and joy to share them with you. 

Blessings to you and yours,

Sandy

In addition to a passion for digital macro photography, Sandy is an independent grant writer and consultant (www.prowordsmithconsulting.com) and hopes to one day complete her first novel, a work of historical literary fiction set in rural Michigan.

Hiking with Louie, the love of my life(!)
in Icicle Creek Canyon, Leavenworth WA

Hiking in the rain at Wallce Falls

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