See  my Images from The West Fork of the Oak Creek Canyon

More stories from my Canyon Survival:

• Lake Geneva Regional Times
• Red Rock News – Sedona, Arizona
• Spirit Magazine
• Kristen Westlake Speech at the G2 Gallery, Venice CA – The Life Behind the Photos. Facing Fears to Live the Dream

See  my Images from The West Fork of the Oak Creek Canyon

A Journey Through the Lens and Life Experience of Renowned Photographer, Kristen Westlake

More stories from my Canyon Survival:

• Lake Geneva Regional Times
• Red Rock News – Sedona, Arizona
• Spirit Magazine
• Kristen Westlake Speech at the G2 Gallery, Venice CA – The Life Behind the Photos. Facing Fears to Live the Dream

See  my Images from The West Fork of the Oak Creek Canyon

More stories from my Canyon Survival:

• Lake Geneva Regional Times
• Red Rock News – Sedona, Arizona
• Spirit Magazine
• Kristen Westlake Speech at the G2 Gallery, Venice CA – The Life Behind the Photos. Facing Fears to Live the Dream

As an environmental photographer, like most of my professional peers, I've reached the conclusion that my purpose is to probe deeper than the surface. I recognize that environmental care begins with INvironment. I do not wish to ever preach at people or become political with my work. What I hope to do is to continue to touch people with inspiring images. I hope to also keep inspiring people to be in touch with what it is that makes them happy and whole. .. The only way to do this is to live by example - living the dream in spite of fear, money issues or any other excuse I might be able to come up with to keep from heading out of my comfort zone and into the unknown to stretch and grow.

Me in front of the G2 Gallery, Venice CA. This Gallery represents my work and I will be speaking here on March 18.

For Kristen Westlake, living her dream of being an inspirational nature and wildlife photographer is as natural as the outdoor beauty with which she surrounds herself. As a young girl growing up on a Wisconsin farm, Kristen spent countless hours lying in the fields looking up at the clouds or closely observing her animal friends. It wasn’t unusual to find the blonde pixie skipping happily through the barnyard with her pet calf ‘Sunshine’ following close behind her.

“I am fortunate to have parents who love me enough to tell me I can do anything I want to do,” she shares with her dazzling smile. “My dream has always felt natural for me, as it should for every one. My call to inspire others through nature is intrinsic. When consulting others on how to live their dreams I ask – what did you love to do when you were a child? Who were you before other people told you what you should and shouldn’t do? In those simple answers, most of us will find our dreams.”

“It’s unfortunate that society makes it more complicated,” she says with a rare tone of melancholy. “The more we are told what we should and shouldn’t do, the less we are able to honor the dreams within us.”

One key point Westlake makes in her motivational sessions is that doing what you love should never mean not being compensated well for your talents and services. Too often, “growing up”, means putting our passion on hold to make a living. “This is just wrong,” the spirited photographer says. “If we don’t live through our passions, we do a disservice to ourselves and to others around us. If we follow what I’ve learned from my subjects in Nature, we must all share our gifts. We are all connected.”
Read more