Several years ago, I got a call one morning from the head ranger at Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. He was inquiring if I would be interested in participating in Bighorn National Forest’s initial Artist in Residence program. That was during the COVID shutdown, and my state was really locked down—we couldn't even go camping in a state park! So, yes, absolutely yes.
When I got there, they had arranged for me to stay in an unoccupied ranger cabin in a fairly remote area, which was perfect. They also had arranged for a videographer to be there to document at least a part of my residency. This is part of the video work that was created by the National Forest Service about their Artist in Residence program. This particular residency was in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. It outlines, in a very brief format, my method of working using a large format camera and working with film.
By the way, the whole purpose of the AIR program there was to generate black and white visuals to promote travel to that national forest. Its proximity to Yellowstone National Park meant that a lot of traffic would go to Yellowstone and bypass this very beautiful area—and it is a huge and very wild area.
This looks incredibly peaceful. Beautiful photos in the video. Did you have a makeshift darkroom?
No. I brought the film home to my darkroom, processed the film and then sent the videographer scans of my work product. Part of the agreement with the Forest Service is that I would provide J-Peg files to them for their use. I sent corresponding files to the videographer and he used them to make the film clip. Very nice man, hyper interested in my process, more than just patronizing me. The whole experience was stellar. I drove out of the National Forest east through Sheridan, I think it was Sheridan and drove to Cody. That country is spectacular, and classic western landscape. Wish I could have spent more time - like days - in that country, but home and a wife beckoned.
And, BTW, I do recommend the area. The northern end of the NF is much less populated than the southern part. It was just impossible to cover even a small portion of it in the 3 weeks allotted.