Photographer finds beauty in a rut

Last January, Sisters photographer Lynn Woodward found examples of nature's fleeting show of splendor on a dirt road near her home in Sisters.

As Woodward took her two dogs for their morning walk, she saw crystallized ice gleaming in the morning sun. She turned around, went back to her house and grabbed her camera. The result is a breathtaking, close-up view of beauty found in the ruts of a country road.

Woodward's photography exhibit, "Ice Gazing," is an innovative display of images captured before they melted back into nothingness. It will hang at Sisters Art Works for two months. She will host an artist's reception on Thursday, November 4, from 5 to 7 p.m.

"We don't often get to see slow-formed ice crystals here in the high desert," said Woodward.

Her resulting images are life-size photographs of ice crystal formations. Simple in concept, the long collages are fascinating to examine. Viewers' eyes recognize patterns in the frost lines and a variety of crystals, much the way familiar shapes can be seen in clouds.

"Within minutes of taking these photographs," said Woodward, "the sun's rays touched them and they were gone. We can't 'pocket' ice crystals; to attempt to possess them is to ruin them."

Woodward wears many hats in the community. She's one of the lead singers for The Anvil Blasters.

"It's an acoustic band known for its brand of livin', dyin', lovin' and lyin' songs," she said.

She's made quite a name for herself taking portraits for business people and families as well as event work for businesses, musicians and media. She designed Web sites for years, but is phasing out that part of her business.

"It's got me riding my chair all day and I'd rather be moving around photographing somebody. I'm not afraid to get dirty and I do lie on the ground," she said with a grin. "I'll climb up a tree, whatever it takes to get the shot."

Woodward prefers to do most of the portrait work outside. When she's not wielding a camera she's shooting a bow off a galloping horse at the Cascade Mounted Archery Center.

"The things that rock my world are wonder and mystery. I am amazed by the natural world which is why I got a BA in biology," she said. "But I find people fascinating too and I love hearing their stories."

One of the ways Woodward keeps her images vibrant is by not using a tripod. Almost all of her work is done as hand-held images.

"I especially work that way with concerts and portraits," she said. "The angles and moments are changing every second; I need to be able to move with them. For me a tripod shot looks stale; the moment's gone. It's part of relating to the subject."

Each piece in Woodward's exhibit is reproduced on canvas and is comprised of a series of offset photo frames, from three to 21 frames: all are 13.5 inches on the short side and the longest is a 20-foot triptych. The life-size prints are hung both horizontally and vertically and several will be at a child's eye-level.

The interactive exhibit is for all ages. Visitors' impressions while ice gazing are encouraged. A scroll of paper will accompany each piece so visitors may describe, in words and sketching, what they see in the patterns. Woodward's work will be on display at Sisters Art Works at 204 W. Adams Ave. from November 1 to December 31.