Seattle Photography Committee Featured Member - Nov 2017

Name: Heidi Walker
Hometown: Grew up in Monroe but now live in Edmonds
Member Since: 2003
Occupation: Desk Jockey at a nonprofit
Favorite Things to Photograph: flowers, landscapes, and people out adventuring

Heidi joined The Mountaineers for the photography committee. She'd heard the club had a non-competitive photo group and, being the shy introverted girl she was, it sounded like the perfect place to meet like-minded photo geeks.

Every adventure, every mountain, every tree, every flower, every critter has a story to tell and I want to share in the telling of the story.

When asked what is her favorite Mountaineers memory, Heidi says there are so many, but she thinks her most memorable one was leading a camping trip to the Hoh Rain Forest in the fall. The bachelor elk were hanging out in camp and two decided to take a nap 20 feet from her tent. Someone got a photo of Heidi eyeing the big beautiful bucks as she was getting into a warmer coat and the elk were casually checking out her activity.

Heidi is inspired by her mother. Her mother loved the arts (she think she had a crush on Van Gogh) and took Heidi to museums, plays, ballet, opera, and concerts hoping that something would stick. Art was central in Heidi's world. While Heidi loves all forms of music and has been in choirs and orchestras, the visual arts really called to her introverted nature. When she looks through her viewfinder, Heidi often looks for the light caught by the master painters.

Heidi as received several awards, both locally and internationally. She's been published in numerous magazines, calendars, postcards, and DVD covers. It’s nice for her to be recognized and see her work in print – to know that someone else appreciates what she's created. Heidi photographs what she loves and it’s nice to know others like it too.

Heidi's boss once told her that what he appreciated the most about her photography was that she can go out on the most miserable of days and come back with something truly beautiful. It was one of the best compliments Heidi ever received. She thinks what’s behind that is her openness to the beauty of the world and willingness to stop when something catches her eye. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be something, stopping to look is the first step.

Heidi readily admits that she's a bit "power-mad". She likes leading. But with leading is also the opportunity to teach, and she loves teaching even more. To be able to help another become the photographer (or hiker, or person) they want to be is one of the greatest rewards Heidi can think of.

As well as photography, Heidi has instructed and leads for Navigation, Leadership, Hiking & Naturalists. Currently, she's the Secretary of the Photo Committee, Chair of the Hiking Committee & Vice Chair for the Seattle Branch Council. She's a Mountaineers Super Volunteer!