I’m spending the next 12 months filming and photographing a two-to-three-mile loop along the Jacks Fork River to build a four-season record—rivers, land, and the wild horses in their home range. The aim is simple: show real change in water, light, erosion, habitat, and herd behavior, and tell a true story of one place—not a lucky one-off shot. This continues my announcement from October 5, 2025.
Why this approach
- Depth beats novelty. Returning all year allows me to catch light, weather, fog, water levels, and herd behavior that only reveal themselves over time.
- Proof, not talk. By filming and photographing the same viewpoints, I can document erosion, human impact (such as trash and off-trail use), and habitat pressure, allowing viewers to compare the changes month by month.
- Focus builds consistency. Limiting myself to one rich area helps alleviate decision fatigue and enhances the quality of my work.
The field work
Everything happens within a two-to-three-mile hiking radius that includes:
- An epic bluff overlook of the river (ideal for sunrise, sunset, and fog)
- Three distinct river scenes from gravel bars
- Two open fields where the wild horses often move through water, woods, and open grass
This mix allows me to create connected stories and pictures—big vistas, intimate river details, and horse behavior set within the land that supports them.
Method: how I’ll work
- Anchor points. I’ll use fixed compositions at each spot (with the same lens height and framing) so that seasonal changes are clear. I’ll also make free-form images when conditions call for it.
- Time windows. I’ll target dawn, late afternoon, and fog after cool nights.
- Stay power. I carry an ultralight chair, food, and water so I can wait all day if needed.
- Simple kit. One pack, refined over October, so I can hike farther and react faster.
- Notes and data. I’ll log weather, river levels as seen on location, hoof activity, trash/impact sightings, and access issues. These notes are intended to pair with the images for context.
What I’ll publish
- Monthly: field notes with new photographs and video clips
- Seasonal (4x/year): small, cohesive mini-portfolios (photos and videos) that hang together visually and narratively
- Year’s end: a curated body of work from all four seasons that shows how this place changes—and why it deserves care
I donate 10% of artwork sales from this project to official ONSR partners. I’ll also keep updating the threat overview page so viewers can connect what they see in the images to real issues on the ground.
Why I’m doing this now
Looking back, I had nine out of ten things right—but one misaligned piece kept me from true “flow.” Re-centering on place and mission fixed that.
I’m not chasing balance or juggling more; I’m aligning tighter on the one thing that matters: telling the Ozark National Scenic Riverways story with honesty and craft.
How can you follow and help?
- Read the weekly field notes and seasonal releases.
- Share the work with people who love rivers, public lands, and horses.
- When you buy prints, you also support the partners working on the ground.
- Support my work through a $10 monthly membership.
Near-term plan and dates
- October 10–13, 2025: first four-day immersion at the new location
- By the end of November 2025, share my current prints and videos via a mini online art show.
- Ongoing: create and share field status updates every time I am in the field working.
Thanks for walking the river with me this next year. I hope that, by staying put and paying attention, the work earns your trust—and makes you feel the stakes for this place.
