About the print: “I knew this photo was going to be special – the sunset was taking on a saturation level that I had never seen before: pinks, purples and blues so radiant it looked fake. Paul Kimbrough (pictured) and I, along with a few others, had spent the day shooting photos and skiing around the backcountry on a rare sunny day. After taking a few ski shots and thinking it was time to get back before dark, this sunset presented itself.”

About the artist: Garrett Grove grew up on the west coast. He was born in California, moved to Alaska and then finally settled in Washington. It’s in his blood: the mountains, streams and ocean. He was lucky to find photography as a medium while exploring these places and eventually made it a full time job which has taken him to many places in the world he would never have dreamed of seeing. Garrett is currently based in Leavenworth, WA, a small, odd Bavarian town sitting at the foothills of the Cascades.

Name: Garrett Grove

What do you love about photography? Its transcendent nature can speak to so many volumes of people in a different way. The photo will always be the same, but the viewer changes. The same person looking at a photo now will feel something different when viewing it five years later. I love how literal and fictional photography is. You have to work with what you put yourself in front of, sometimes capturing the photo is the easiest part, whereas the process is harder. Photography keeps me on my toes.

How do you see photography changing in the next 10 years? I think the different styles and cultures of photography will continue to become more of a niche community. Accessibility to viewing and taking a photograph will continue to increase greatly, gaining more of an audience and thus creating a more powerful voice in the niche it belongs to.

Can you offer a few tips to aspiring photographers? Don’t try to become a professional photographer. Make sure that the intentions come from within. That way if you do become a professional that passion for the photo continues to burn and your craft continues to progress. All in all it is pretty simple: if you love taking photos and share them with the people around you, doors will open and even if they don’t, you will still be happy.

Who are three photographers that inspire you? And why?

Cole Barash – he continues to pursue the craft and his passions above everything else. He had a niche in an easy market and he left it because he wasn’t satisfied.

Bryan Schutmaat – the moment you see his photos you will know why. They are timeless from the instant he takes them. His quote “You’re not special, work hard” always puts me in my place.

Thomas Prior – his constant creative attention to the story of everyday ordinary pushes me to always keep my eyes open.