Seen Outside: Errin in the Aspens

“These pictures have been waiting for us...”- Errin

tattooed blonde woman stands for a figure study portrait in aspen forest

Errin is my best friend. A sister surely, a soul mate certainly. We’ve been making life and art and life as art for 16 years. I witness to her unfolding and she witnesses mine. Errin sees the continual thread in my work. She knows the arch, the pain joys, the projects, themes, flubs and fuck ups that make life so now and real. She holds true mirrors. We shoulder shake and love and laugh loud and irreverent. We see and know each other, as treasure.

nude woman hugs aspen tree

We’ve made a lot of images over the years; in the desert and mountains, outside a New York bodega draggin’ a travel cig, in a sold out broadway theater many rows between us because those were the only seats for a show she wouldn’t let me miss. I’ve photographed her tripping, inside, outside, gathering, her motherhood and Evie, headshots, home, kid, with her lover Vegor, crying and laughing, all.

This time, it was an early September Sunday morning. Together by 7 am we drove high above Park City looking for a private river spot, but the more we drove the more we knew that river wasn’t it- we felt like earth, we felt like aspens.

medium format film photograph nude woman in utah

“I live to be surprised by what our portraits uncover”- Errin

line of aspens in morning light with nude figure standing

So we turned and parked. We only got just a few steps away from the road before we found our spot in a perfect symmetry of trees and then we felt/felt into a portrayal portral.

This is creative play with me walking around, carrying shoes, listening, checking in, gesturing, lining it all up, screaming when we get it right (god, the moment where connection and shutter align CHEF’S FUCKING KISS), and Errin, open and confident, alert and willing to try ideas that come in floods that send more floods, ideas that spawn whole new worlds of whole new ideas.

nude figure stands under pine tree trunk

“I loved the freedom of letting inspiration strike—of choosing the thing that felt right and not that was pre-determined. I loved the deep safety I felt while being completely exposed.

I am stunned and thrilled and think they are some of the most true images I’ve ever seen of myself.”

After an hour we’re done. I could shoot forever until flow portal closes.

We both feel it- a resolve.

We check each other for ticks like old wise crone bitches do and load up ‘n go home.

black and white image of nude figure on forest floor

Thank you my Errin love for being my muse and sister. I love you.

nude female figure walks into pine and aspen forest

To those ready for an authentic, lasting portrait experience, one that speaks to the heart of who you are—reach out.

Let’s create Seen together…

SESSION NOTES

Clients and collaborators are given control over the sharing vs privacy of their nude portraits. These images are shared with permission.

Client collaborator, friend, golden girl Aspen delight : Errin Pedersen

Cameras: Rolleiflex 6001 and Canon 5D Mark IV

Film: Kodak Gold 200, a 120, medium format film shot at box speed (200 ISO) pushed 1 stop (+1) in developing.

Development: Dev and scan at The Find Lab