Spirit of Pohono
Original photograph signed and numbered by Charlotte Gibb
Archival pigment photograph
Mounted and overmatted with 4-ply archival museum board
Multiple sizes available (See Print Size Information)
About the Artist
Charlotte Gibb is an award-winning and renowned nature and landscape photographer based in Northern California. She is known for her mastery of "Intimate Landscapes" — small scenes derived from a large landscape.
The youngest of nine, she spent her early life playing and exploring the rural Northern California mountain area of her childhood home. Her father, an avid mountain climber and nature lover, made sure his kids shared his passion for the outdoors. After his death in a climbing accident, her mother continued to encourage an attachment to nature, ensuring that family vacations were spent outdoors camping, hiking, and exploring.
Charlotte earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She cut her teeth in the advertising business as an art director in the 1990s, then operated her own graphic design firm in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades. Throughout her long career as an artist, her photography was constantly infused in her design work. Her darkroom has since been replaced with digital darkroom tools, and her style has evolved from a somewhat journalistic approach, to one that pays tribute to the natural world.
Charlotte writes and publishes on the subject of photography and creativity, has been a keynote speaker and educator for several national photography events, served as a judge for international and local photography competitions, and exhibits her work throughout California.
She can usually be found tromping with her camera bag in the wilderness areas around the Sierra Nevada range and Yosemite National Park in her home state.
Story Behind the Image
Yosemite National Park is a place near and dear to my heart. I have spent countless major life milestones here — birthdays, anniversaries, anything that mattered was an excuse to head to Yosemite and spend as much time as work and duty would allow. Ultimately, it would be time to leave paradise and head home. Departing the Valley, I’d look toward Bridalveil Fall, wave “au revoir, until next time,” always a bit choked up.
For whatever reason, on this day I decided not to stop at my customary spot and to just hurry home. As I drove past Bridalveil Fall, ready to blow a kiss goodbye, I saw this scene. I braked hard and pulled over.
The clouds had parted, and sunlight streamed in at a sharp angle, lighting plumes of mist drifting across the scene.
In a brisk wind, the falling water from Bridalveil Fall is often blown sideways. When the flow is light, it may not reach even the ground directly below. Because of this, the Ahwahneechee people called this waterfall “Pohono,” which means Spirit of the Puffing Wind. This photograph was made in early Spring, and the runoff was heavy, creating beautiful plumes of mist rising up into the warm light of the late morning sun. I had to tear myself away. ~ Charlotte Gibb
Ordering Information
Original photographs are hand made and not all sizes are kept in inventory.
Special orders from the photographer may take up to 4 weeks for delivery.
Please contact us at info@anseladams.com if you have any questions about shipping and delivery.
Print Size Information
Prices subject to change as editions sells outs.