Erik Stensland was born in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He soon moved to Montana where he developed a deep love for the mountains. From a very early age he was hiking and exploring the streams and forests around his mountain home.
In 1978 Erik’s family returned to Minnesota where he completed his early education. In 1991 after finishing college, he moved to Europe where he met his wife Joanna. They married and moved to the Balkans living in Bulgaria, Albania and Kosovo, where they spent 12 years assisting local churches and development agencies. In January 2004, they returned to the States for personal restoration and so that Erik could complete his MA in Organizational Development. They settled near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado which enabled Erik to pursue his love of nature through photography.
With the beauty of
Rocky Mountain National Park literally on his doorstep, Erik rises frequently rise long before dawn to hike back to remote lakes or up high peaks to capture the unparalleled beauty of the Park in warm morning light. He is also developing photographic collections from the
Desert Southwest as well as from the
United Kingdom. His work has been featured in dozens of art shows, in the rotunda of the Colorado state capital and in numerous galleries. Erik also has his own
gallery in Estes Park, Colorado .
My Vision
My vision is to reveal the beauty of creation, capturing those moments and views that simply take one's breath away. These wonders remind us of what we were originally created for and the character of the One who created it all. We have all felt our heart leap when we see a majestic view or watch a mountain sunrise. The beauty of nature awakens a deep, almost inexpressible longing. It reminds us of the world we were originally created for, a world of color, creativity, and life. Man's rebellion against God reaped havoc on the world and continues to do so today, but nature's beauty reminds us that at some point, God will "make all things new", restoring the world back to its original glory. We live in this hope and Erik's photography aims to uncover some of those remaining glimpses of creation, as it was and as it will one day be again.
Artist Statement
Photography is a way for me to communicate my deepest feelings about our natural world. To me, nature is more than a random collection of mineral elements and organic growth; it is a story which tells us who we are. Today people flock to the mountains, deserts and oceans to
connect with a deep longing and desire that they feel in the presence of untamed nature, a yearning that is hard to put into words, an almost spiritual connection with these wild places. One of the connecting threads behind these feelings is the concept of beauty, yet for many artists beauty is passé. Pablo Picasso was once asked what he thought of beauty. He responded, “To me it is a word without sense because I do not know where its meaning comes from nor where it leads to.” Unlike Picasso, I believe that beauty holds a message and my photography is an attempt to explore the deep voice of beauty.
My work is characterized by vibrant natural colors which are typically found at sunrise or sunset. Having spent over a decade in post-communist Europe where much was very gray, I returned to the United States with a deep hunger for color and so I’ve made that a key element of my photography. I believe that it gives my images a vibrant and hopeful feel which can speak into our mundane and often pain filled lives.
My primary area of focus is
Rocky Mountain National Park. I’ve spent nearly 6 years exploring its 415 sq. miles building the most extensive collection of fine art images of the park. The National Park Service has also begun sending me into their research areas to document them. Beyond Rocky, I’m actively building collections in the
Desert Southwest and the
United Kingdom.
These days I am shooting with the Canon 5D Mark ii and three lenses; a 17-40 F4, 24-105 F4 and a 70-200 F4. Previously I used a 4”x5” wooden view camera. I typically display my prints mounted on a wood background with a UV protective laminate over the print. This avoids the glare of glass and gives the images an almost three-dimensional feel.
At the moment I sell my work primarily through
my own gallery in Estes Park as well as via my website. My work has been on display in many venues and this year the new Four Seasons Hotel in Denver will open with several of my images in each of their 230 rooms. I also have a book published by
Skyline Press called
“Images of Rocky Mountain National Park” which can be found at bookstores throughout Colorado.
Erik Stensland - January 2010
"Photography is simply recording the
artistry of God."
All images on this site are copyrighted by Erik Stensland. Violators will be charged for unauthorized usage. Site by
WideRange Galleries.
