Business Talk: The Mountains and The Bay

The Mountains: The base of upper Yosemite Falls ©Billy Sauerland

I love having people in my life that inspire me. Particularly about going after what you want, doing the work, and achieving your goals and dreams.

I recently went on a trip to California, first to Yosemite then to San Francisco. My friends Elisabeth “Moe” Barton and Bryant Burnette are founding members and operators of Echo Adventure Cooperative in Groveland, CA outside of Yosemite National Park. Then in San Francisco my friend Keith Lawrence, musician, producer, co-founder and owner of Unicorn Breeding Ground.

During my visit, the discussions would often transition to work, projects, goals and the excitement of what we’re currently working on.  Along with the trials we’ve had, the solutions and achievements we’ve made in overcoming them. This back and forth is energizing, and helps motivate you to get your own work done. While in the mountains talking motivations, current and future plans, business and marketing strategies. Then a few days later while on the bay discussions about artistic collaboration and how working with different artists has a way of making each other better together rather then apart.

The give and take, the seeding of ideas, the whole experience can be intoxicating. If only I can bottle it and take it home with me. There is nothing like being present in the place where big things have and continue to happen. In one case it's the small mountain town right next to one of the jewels of the National Park system, the iconic Yosemite. Where the likes of John Muir and Ansel Adams did some of their best work, helping to form our environmental movement and the way we see it.  And the other, San Francisco, where artistic expressions, social movements and technological achievements have changed our culture and our everyday lives.

The Bay: Baker Beach just southwest of The Golden Gate Bridge ©Billy Sauerland

I love and support my friends, their work, and them achieving their goals. I’m taking that energy home, cultivating and growing it. NOW, LET’S WORK!!!

Below are a couple links for Echo Adventure Cooperative and Unicorn Breeding Ground’s social media, go and check them out.

The Mountains: Echo’s FB Echo’s Insta The Bay: Unicorn’s FB Unicorn’s Insta

I hope all of you have people in your lives that do the same for you. #goanddo #dothework #liveyourpassion

Lupine, one of my favorite flowers.

---

Lupine are one of my favorite flowers. This image was captured on a walk on Mud Lake Loop trail, a three mile loop through Stanislaus National Forest going around Evergreen at Yosemite Lodge. It links Evergreen Road to Mather, just outside of the Hetch Hetchy entrance to Yosemite National Park.

---

Details matter.

…not always better, but always different.

Getting down low and capturing something in a rarely seen way. Showing and bringing things to light in a new way, not always better but always different. That can be very difficult, finding different ways of doing something, trying not to repeat yourself, well at least not repeat yourself too often. Sometimes all it takes is to give yourself time, to stop and look around and be patient with yourself and the place you are in. In this way, photography for me can be a very meditative practice. Slowing yourself, calming your pace and allowing yourself to catch your breathe. Focussing on what you are doing and being purposeful with your actions.