ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
“A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety.”
-Ansel Adams
Charlie Sandbo
Photographer / Writer
Location:
Portland, Oregon USA
Email:
Favorite Destination:
Yellowstone National Park
Favorite Photographers:
Tom Mangelsen, Ansel Adams
Favorite Photography Subjects:
Wildlife, Wildflowers, Fall Colors, Astrophotography
Favorite Writers:
Photo Courtesy of Theodora L. Gill
More Than Meets The Eye
There is a compelling duality when examining photography as an art form. At first glance, a photo merely depicts a literal snapshot of a single moment in time. A rather ordinary feat; anyone can do it, and with the improvements to and abundance of smartphone cameras, many have. But for the photographer who makes an effort to notice and compose the finer details, a much deeper, personal representation is revealed. Using a quick shutter speed with a telephoto lens produces precise, detailed moments like the feathers and water droplets inexplicably suspended mid air while an osprey rips a trout away from a river’s surface. As if through osmosis, the raw energy visible within the scene is transferred to the viewer who, in turn, might feel their own pulse quicken with a slight rush of adrenaline. Or consider how a ground-level perspective provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of smaller subjects like insects or plants, instilling within us a sense of empathy akin to walking a mile in somebody else’s shoes.
A conduit to our own cognition, a simple image captured in a particular manner stimulates an array of deep and complex thoughts or emotions. Like us, there is more than what meets the eye.
Take Me For Example...
Charlie Sandbo: Photographer. Adventurer. Outdoor enthusiast. Deep thinker. A concerned citizen of the world, located in one of the prettiest places on Earth: Portland, Oregon USA.
Exciting, sure, and true too; yet this profile lacks substance and could just as easily portray countless other individuals. Similar to how incorporating different techniques makes a compelling photo, I find that one's convictions, actions, words, and mannerisms make a person unique. The culmination of these personal qualities and technical methods gives an artist his or her distinct “flair'' and allows them to stand out.
So what makes me and my photography stand out? I will leave that to you to decide...
The truth is, just as I am continuing to learn new approaches to photography, I am still discovering and determining who this Charlie Sandbo character is: the boy I was growing up, the person I am today, and the man I want to become. Admittedly, an existential search feels like an odd thing to mention within the introduction to a photography site. However, as I alluded to above, I have come to realize that in both life and photography, perception and perspective are everything. Moreover, at the core of it all (my photography, beliefs, ambitions, fears, and spirit) is a profoundly personal attachment to the natural world.
If this sounds complicated, speaking from personal experience, I am inclined to agree.
But when I walk amidst the trees and wetlands, gaze up at the mountains or stars in awe, or study the lives of creatures unfolding before my camera lens, the world slows down and my own existence finally comes into focus. I unplug from the omnipresent invasion of the modern world to watch, listen, feel, and reflect. At long last, I can hear the innermost, intimate conversations of my soul surface to the forefront of my mind.
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Life Shaped by Nature
Since childhood, the outdoors has played an integral role in my life. Growing up, I enjoyed taking family camping trips throughout the western US and Canada. On warm spring and summer days I chased and caught butterflies or bees in my mother’s garden. My friends and I spent hours riding our mountain bikes through city parks. A native Oregonian, not even the rain stopped me. I really could not have asked for a more fortunate upbringing or loving family.
In 2006, I attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon to earn a degree in international studies with a minor in politics. Initially, I was drawn to learning about geography; not the capitals of countries and their borders, but how the physical landscape, climate, plants, and animals shaped everything about life: where people lived, what they ate, when they traveled, whom they traded with, and how such elements shaped cultures. A concept not only applicable to humans, but for all forms of life! Over generations, the daily habits and relationships between all organisms (birds, plants, fish, reptiles, insects, mammals, etc.) are conditioned by the resources and climate made accessible through the area's physical geography. In other words, it dictates an ecosystem- and that is a pretty big deal.
As my studies focused, I began to understand how recent years of human colonization, industrialization, and globalization dramatically altered the natural world within an incredibly short period of time. Although such changes satisfy some of our immediate needs and leisurely comforts, I am deeply troubled by what such an “ecological debt” means for a species whose population has quadrupled in the last 100 years. But more importantly, I ponder, “how can we avoid catastrophe; why are we not acting with more urgency; and what can/should I be doing about it?”
The weight of the world aside, I still try to spend as much time outdoors as possible- especially with my camera. In my travels, I have ventured beyond the Arctic circle, hiked through the world’s most biodiverse jungle in Costa Rica, gazed up at the brilliant night sky in the Oregon Outback, fallen asleep to the serenade of howling wolves in Wyoming, and enjoyed a few other amazing experiences along the way. The world is simply too magnificent and beautiful to not deserve a lifetime of my appreciation!
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A Call to Action
Still, I cannot ignore that I am increasingly bearing witness to a rapidly changing planet. The green lush forests I once wandered have been replaced by stands of dead bare wood, charred by increasingly frequent wildfires. The impressive glaciers that shrouded the shoulders of mountains have rescinded further away from the subalpine valleys they carved below. Some of the butterfly species I chased around my mother’s garden as a boy are harder to find or have disappeared altogether. My adventures are transforming from journeys of exploration into tours of farewell.
But I am not ready to concede that all is lost.
However, I do need your help. First, I humbly ask that you acknowledge the fragility of our Earth, the only place in the entire universe confirmed to harbor life. Second, I ask that you accept the mortality (and possible extinction) of any species, including humans. Finally, and most importantly, I ask that you help and show compassion towards others: friends, family, coworkers, strangers, those who are different from you, those who are a different species than you, and even those who you may dislike. While straightforward, such requests are easier said than done; yet these are some of the largest obstacles to mitigating the damage done to this planet.
I am a firm believer in altruism and believe that if humanity is going to endure the challenges ahead (longer wildfire seasons, stronger hurricanes, and pandemics are just the beginning) it will take a truly global effort. This website is therefore more than a collection of my artwork; it is my attempt to spread awareness, education, and camaraderie regarding the critical importance of environmental conservation and the constructive things we can do to make progress. If I am fortunate enough to make any money from this endeavor, a portion of the proceeds will go towards supporting partnering nonprofit organizations whose causes include environmental conservation or other humanitarian efforts. We cannot afford to lose any more time, yet for the many people living under the hardships of inequality, injustice, poverty, health concerns, and/or the many other numerous facets that impair daily life, time is not a luxury that many can afford to spare. We have to bring each other up in order to get everyone on board.
Well, that’s me in a nutshell! Thank you for reading and don't forget to explore the website!
Wishing you all a future of good health, love, peace, and prosperity,
Charlie
To read more about this organization, its partners, and its goals, please click on the links below or refer to the topics listed under the “About” portion in the menu.
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