Look up the definition of the word desert and you will get a lot of uninspiring imagery. When you are looking at definitions like, “arid land with usually sparse vegetation” and “a desolate or foreboding area” the last thing you think about is life and beauty.
However, as desert dwellers, those of us living in Arizona know first hand how beautiful the desert can be. The sunrises and sunsets seem like works of art painted across a sky canvas. The elevated elevation devoid of skyscrapers allows us the perfect viewpoint to see the beauty of desert skies. There is a local photographer who has made it her mission to bring joy into the world and her method of doing that is through photography.
Joanne West came to Arizona by way of Chicago when she was seventeen. Her photography journey is unconventional and started from a period of time where she was looking for purpose after losing her mother. Now, she tries to find the humor in things and see the light where others see darkness. She has photographed many beautiful places, places everybody would consider beautiful—Africa, Australia, Italy, and Peru to name a few. However, her true love remains in Arizona where the most heartful images come from. She has made her home near the Superstition Springs Mountains in an underground dome home.
You can visit her main website (jwestphotography.com) to view her galleries, upcoming events, and for more information on how to work with Joanne. You can purchase her photography in a variety of formats, from photo cards to canvas and metal prints at: joanne-west.pixels.com.
Want to see her work in person? You can schedule an appointment to view her home gallery at 602-999-7957 or you can visit a few places in the Gold Canyon area—Tortilla Flats Mercantile and Gift Shop, Gold Canyon Café, My Sisters Café, and Live it Well Yoga Studio.
Her true love remains in Arizona where the most heartful images come from.