Moments in Nature: Christopher Ives

The Orris is pleased to share the striking work of Christopher Ives. We invite you to wander through the American wild with his camera as your guide.

Thermal Pools at Dusk; Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Ives writes, “In the words of Henry David Thoreau, ‘I have been anxious to improve the nick of time… to stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and future, which is precisely the present moment; to toe that line.’ In a very objective way, releasing the shutter for me is just that, to capture the present moment, and ‘toe its line’. I find this particularly fantastic in natural settings. As we continue to turn inward toward our screens, many folks find it more difficult to relate to the ecosystem that they are inexorably a part of. To be able to see a photograph and contemplate the minute details of what is otherwise an entirely fleeting moment in an infinite line of moments… for me, that’s powerful.”

Bald Eagle and Lake Clark National Park in distance; Ninilchik, Alaska

Mendenhall Glacier; Juneau, Alaska

Sea Lions; Astoria, Oregon

Rainstorm and Rainbow over Denali National Park; Alaska

“Minimalism, contrast, and scale are major components of my artistic work. A slight change in angle or exposure can completely change the perspective of a shot, allowing the viewer to see through different eyes, and hopefully appreciate the dynamic nature of the world.”

Alaskan Mountain Goat in Chugach Mountains; near Indian, Alaska

Twisted Juniper; Sedona, Arizona

Resting Elk of the Roosevelt Elk Herd; Northern California

Field of Sunflowers for oil harvesting; near Wounded Knee, South Dakota

Coastal Redwoods; Northern California

Christopher Ives is a writer, consultant, and audio/visual artist. He obtained his BA in Philosophy and Sustainable Living from the University of New Hampshire and his MA in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University. He has photographed for the TED conference, and had his film work featured in the documentary ‘One Day on Earth.’ He is the cofounder of A Migrant State of Mind: a blog on culture, travel, and simple living. You can find more of his work at www.christopherives.com.

Instagram: @christopherives

Vimeo: vimeo.com/christopherives