Into the Woods - Hannah Maines

This picture was taken on Whidbey Island, Washington, my husband’s hometown, during this past winter break. Usually I hate visiting the island because I feel like a fish out of water there. The culture is very different from what I grew up in. To get anywhere takes at least 45 minutes, and usually consists of a ferry ride. Cell service is rare. Everyone wears Tevas and talks about records and movies I’ve never heard of.

However, after my last visit to Whidbey, I didn’t want to come home. Being there forced me to slow down; it forced me to look at the world with a new sense of discovery and wonder. Everything became beautiful and awe inspiring. I took a particular interest in the dense woods, and how easy it was to “lose yourself” in them. I wanted to convey those feelings of wanderlust and appreciation for the world in this photo. I used Photoshop to slightly saturate the trees and brighten the image.

I commented on the following: Shauna Holdaway, Taylor Neuter, Esther Cabrera, Ruben Felix, Lincoln Selk