A Bear's Dream
A Bear’s Dream is a Front Range, Colorado black-and-white forest print made from a rainy backcountry hike—four miles in to the base of a waterfall, carrying gear while trying to keep everything dry. Finding a flat place to camp in the mountains isn’t easy, but I found a tucked-away spot near a cluster of boulders where it was obvious others had spent the night.
That evening, around dusk, I heard a sharp plastic pop from my bear canister—two hundred feet from my tent, right where it should be. I knew immediately what it meant. I walked back, shouted, and tried to scare the bear off, but it wasn’t interested in leaving. After twenty minutes of realizing I wasn’t winning that negotiation, I packed up fast and moved to the nearest known flat spot to sleep—leaving the campsite to its rightful owner.
Earlier in the day, in pouring rain, I made this photograph: two boulders, a single tree, and the quiet structure of the forest. The composition lands subtly on the golden ratio, which is part of why it’s become one of my favorite images. If you’re looking for Colorado wall art or a moody black and white forest print with a calm, story-rich presence, A Bear’s Dream brings the feeling of the wilderness—beautiful, uneasy, and unforgettable—into a home or office.
