Ken Goodrich

For me, the natural world is an open door to adventure.  The wind, rain, ocean waves, a volcanic eruption, or the scent of the forest in early morning - these things enliven me and I want to get out there with my camera to be a part of it all.

My early excursions in Nature have had a strong influence on my character and in my work.  When I was four years old I was already exploring the hills and streams near my home in what was then rural Santa Clara County in California.  Walking my dog, I was lured into the peace and beauty of the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains.    I didn’t have a camera then, but the mind’s eye of my child-self has kept the images and sensations alive to this day. 

As an image maker, my goal is to create photographs that convey how I felt looking at the scene before me.  This begins with composing and capturing the scene skillfully and is completed using post-production tools to sculpt the raw file into a finished image; one that reflects my personal interpretation of that moment in time and space.

Many years have yielded many images.  This work has led me to wanting to share my knowledge and techniques with others.  In addition to offering Hawaii Photo Retreat tours, online teaching is a way I can connect with fellow photographers without either of us having to leave home. 

I believe that creative expression can be a pathway to healing; both for ourselves and those touched by our art.  Find the joy in developing and sharing your voice! 

I am here to help you on your journey.

Mary Goodrich

There has always been a sort of magic about capturing time with a camera and seeing it in a print. As a child, I had a fascination with the photographs in our family albums, some dating back to the early 1900’s. I learned photography through trial and error, by observing artist friends and reading books and photo magazines. At one point I took a job in a film lab to further my understanding of the  craft.

My photographs have always been about seeing and being aware of feelings when I observe the forces of nature around me. I like noticing the impact that time, wind, lava and water have on the environment as well as on man-made objects. The natural arrangement of certain forms, lines, light and shadow delight my senses.

Once I am attracted to something, I work on finding the heart of the image. It is like a living thing that teases, or dares, me to uncover it. Previsualization and the initial capture count for a lot but the final look of a photograph comes later and may be different than what I originally thought it would be. The images I like best are probably the abstractions, catching the light at odd moments, and discovering some small wonder that no one else will see unless I photograph it.

Over the years I have worked in various media including, color transparencies, Polaroid transfers, traditional black and white silver prints, hand coloring, digital prints and digital multi-media. I have exhibited in national and international venues including Taipei, London, Berlin, Paris, Hong Kong, Beijing and in the Hahnemuhle Gallery at Photokina 2010. I have been published several times in B&W Magazine and Color.

My enthusiasm for photography extends to the Hawaii photography workshops and tours my husband and I offer. We work with individual photographers in the field and with Lightroom and Photoshop, focusing on the areas of photography they want to learn about.