Page 59 - Flathead Beacon // 4.30.14

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APRIL 30, 2014 | 59

have here. If you have an oil spill on the it stepped into an opening I snapped a
Middle Fork and make the river a Super- few shots. Then it vanished.
fund site, it would forever degrade the Later that night, I peered out of the

ecological community and hurt the lo- tent to see the Northern Lights. I went
cal human communities, too, especially back to the knoll to take some pho-
the businesses that depend on tourism, tos. Between long exposures I’d whirl
ishing and wildlife watching. I accept around and scan the trees with my head-
that I have a responsibility to take care lamp for glowing eyes. The only eyes I
of this place and believe other residents saw were those of the buck who had tak-
and visitors share this same responsi- en shelter from the lion by staying close
bility. The Crown is the headwaters to to us all evening.

some of the continent’s major river sys-
tems. Anyone living at the headwaters Beacon: For the book, you collaborated
of any watershed owes it to everyone with local conservationists and writers
downstream to keep the water clean. I Doug Chadwick and Michael Jamison. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Steven Gnam en route for a weeklong trip into the mountains; A bighorn sheep
also believe we should take care of the Could you describe the impetus for the on the Rocky Mountain Front; Mountain climber; Rainbow over the Continental Divide. COURTESY STEVEN GNAM
Crown for the sake of the life forms that book and the collaborative process in-
live here: wolverines, tailed frogs, bull volved with these other stakeholders?
trout, and harlequins, to name a few. It’s Gnam: I’m really thankful to work with static landscape, I’m out moving around
tana Legacy Project have led to some of
clear that the land and animals contrib- both Doug and Michael. Our aim in mak- the largest private-to-public land deals in it, so there’s a diferent kind of energy,
ute immensely to our local economies ing this project wasn’t to make a book, in U.S. history. It’s in that same spirit we diferent angles, and diferent composi-
and provide the impetus for tourism, but to put together this collection of im- want these photos and words to foster tions that make an image much more
but I think we have an ethical responsi- ages and essays with the message of cel- change.
interesting artistically. This involve-
bility to protect them, even if it costs us ebrating and protecting the Crown into ment in making photos also helps me as
along the way. It would be nice to see the a medium we could share – a book made Beacon: Describe your personal con- a journalist to create visual stories that
businesses that thrive of tourism giv- the most sense. My mother was a librar- nection to the Crown of the Continent – change perspectives.

ing back to the resources they owe their ian so it’s possible her love of books and your roots, your family’s roots – and the As an artist and journalist I also
livelihoods to.
all the time I spent with stacks of books spell it’s cast over you.
feel the need to create something new.
in the Whiteish library also inluenced Gnam: I imagine most people have a I’m not interested in recreating other
Beacon: Your images tell very vivid sto- me a bit too.
special bond with their childhood home. peoples’ work or taking common pho-
ries on their own, without efusive ex- A lot of people have done books on I was fortunate to have parents who let tographs. The world is full of pretty
planatory captions. Still, you must have this region or parts of this region. The me explore, and really encouraged it, photos and we don’t need more. But we
a trove of behind-the-shutter stories majority of these books have the mes- so my earliest memories are of ishing, do need art, and we do need stories. We
from your adventures. Could you share sage that this is a beautiful place – end of hunting and berry picking trips around need to see things in a new way, to have

one or two that were memorable? story. Rather than make another pretty the Crown.
powerful encounters with nature. Real
Gnam: There are many ordinary mo- picture book full of calendar photos, we art helps us do this, whether it’s music,
ments, sometimes hundreds of hours of wanted to have this book highlight why Beacon: You travel through the moun- painting, or photography. I know when
ieldwork, before I see what I’m looking this is an amazing place, explaining the tains and prairies by ski, crampon, foot I’m having these encounters that there
for and then get to make a photograph. ecological diversity and the history of and bike, engaging with the landscape is a good chance this will get translated
Photographing a mountain lion deep conservation that shaped what we see physically as well as with your camera. into the photograph. Often for me, those
in the Bob Marshall Wilderness was a today. We also wanted the project to How important is that tangible relation- powerful emotional experiences don’t

pretty awesome experience. A friend beneit the land and the people who con- ship with your environment, and how happen on the beaten paths, they some-
and I were halfway into a weeklong trek tinue the ongoing work of caretaking does it inluence your passion for your times happen at the edge of exhaustion,
through the Bob. We were eating din- the Crown and its resources. Partnering work?
at the close of a long day in the moun-
ner on a knoll when I heard deer hooves with local conservation groups was the Gnam: I deinitely make more satis- tains. They don’t happen often. I’ll go
moving fast on rock. I got up, grabbed my logical next step. From the onset of this fying images when I’m immersed in days, even weeks, not taking a photo if
camera, and ran to the sound. Suddenly a project we sought input from conserva- the landscape. I’d rather be running or things aren’t coming together or I’m not
mule deer buck came running past us, its tion groups to create a tool to help them swimming or climbing around in a beau- inspired. But even if I’m not making im-
ears back, listening to something behind share what it is about this place that is so tiful scene than just looking at it. I think ages I’m still out breathing deep, enjoy-

it. A mountain lion appeared behind it, worth protecting. Collaboration makes artistically this passion comes across ing the moments I get outside.
gliding through the stand of trees. When
sense here too – eforts like the Mon-
in the photos – I’m not trying to shoot a
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