Jim Schomaker,  Tree Skeletons – Beachie Creek Fire

The show runs from May 7 through May 28, 2022
There will be an artist reception on Saturday, May 7 from 3:00 to 6:00

Elsinore Framing & Fine Art Gallery
444 Ferry St.  SE  Salem OR  97301
503-581-4642
elsinoregallery@outlook.com
Elsinore hours  M-F 9:00 – 6:00
Sat. 10:00 – 5:00

I had been photographing this area, Elkhorn Valley/ N. Fork Rd along the Little North Santiam
River, for the last 14 years and thought it very unique and beautiful. Each year I looked forward
to returning in the Spring, being sure things would look a little different after the Winter rains and could capture something with a new look.

Then came the “Beachie Creek Fire” in August 2020. It was almost two months after the fire was
out before I could bring myself to view the burned area. Shocking devastation for miles and miles.
I slowly started to photograph a few burned areas even as dead trees adjacent to the roads were being cut, or were marked (red X’s) to be cut, post burn.

After returning a second time I found myself being more selective in what my images looked like
and realized I could still see and find beauty in a perverse sort of way. As a landscape photographer
for 40 years that becomes ingrained in the way you see things. So I relaxed and decided to keep
seeing and photographing this way. As you look at these images, I’m hoping you see the beauty in
the photographers vision in spite of the fires devastation.

You will probably notice that some of the trees, mostly Alders (whitish & grey) as well as some mosses and lichens survived due to high water content. A number of these photographs were taken across the river resulting in large near trees and much smaller background trees.

Considering my particular nature, I have printed my own photographs herein.

jimschomaker@comcast.net