Dawn Demaske’s spectacular photography of American landscapes brings us to a world of pristine majesty, untouched by the intrusive and often destructive hand of man. A fervent advocate for environmental protection and conservation, Demaske captures wilderness areas and public lands that are uncontaminated yet unprotected and, as a result, may still be subjected to the catastrophic consequences of climate change and human activity. Her preferred times to shoot are during the nocturnal or crepuscular hours of the day, when the light is blue or golden, tinted by shades of lavender fusing into patches of cobalt and peacock blue or traversing the horizon in bejeweled stripes of amber, aventurine, and turquoise.
Desert vistas and rock formations reflect the luminous, mottled display of the starry mantle, in reverent silence. Aurora borealis displays flood the sky with visions of technicolor glory, while peach-hued lakes placidly await the dim hours against a backdrop of snow frosted mountains. Demaske unravels the unbridled potency of the natural world, the same one our primordial ancestors may have observed. She would like us to acknowledge that priceless treasures still exist on our planet and without increased conservation and environmental protection, they will diminish at an alarming rate. By immortalizing them, she seeks to raise awareness on the fragility of our ecosystems and inspire positive actions toward their preservation.
Demaske received a BA in Art and Photography from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She lives and works in Roseville, Minnesota.
DAWN DEMASKE ON
Landscapes in wilderness areas that are unique and beautiful and places that need protection are the subject matters of my photography. Most of my work is captured during the blue and golden hours of the day, which are the best times for soft light, deep shadows, and contrast. I look for remote locations with minimal light pollution, so that I can experience the magnificence of nature without the intrusion of man. Natural resources that are untouched by humans are diminishing and are under constant threat by ever-growing technology and industrialization. By immortalizing them, I seek to raise awareness on the fragility of our ecosystems and inspire positive actions toward their preservation.
