Alex Bogaard, wildlife and nature photographer

Alex Bogaard is a travel, nature and wildlife photographer based in Cle Elum, Washington.

Seattle Refined: How long have you been creating? What mediums do you work with?
Bogaard: I have been actively creating for 20+ years, and my medium of choice is photography.

Can you tell us about your artistic process and how the different stages work into it?
My photography process is deeply rooted in travel, and each stage reflects that connection:

Location Selection: Each project begins with choosing a location that resonates with the story I want to tell. This decision often involves considering unique landscapes or cultural elements that can enrich the visual narrative.

Travel Preparations: Organizing logistics like visas, accommodations, and transportation is essential, as well as ensuring I’m prepared for the specific demands of the destination.

Physical Conditioning: Many of my chosen locations are remote and physically challenging. Preparing for high-altitude travel or carrying a 40-pound camera backpack over miles in harsh conditions, like skiing in Yellowstone’s winter, requires rigorous training and stamina. Physical conditioning is a vital part of my preparation process.

Gear Preparation: Photography demands sensitive, often bulky equipment, so selecting the right gear and knowing how to protect it in different environments is crucial.

Storyboarding: Before traveling, I begin visualizing the kinds of stories I aim to capture. This often includes a mental image of a key shot I hope to bring back. Each destination — whether it’s Nepal, Cuba or the backcountry of Yellowstone — has a unique storyboard.

On-location Adaptation: While I keep the storyboard in mind, I remain open to unexpected moments. For instance, at a recent rodeo, I had initially planned to focus on classic bronco and bull riding shots, but I was drawn to the intensity and harmony in women’s barrel racing. Pivoting my focus allowed me to explore speed and skill in a way I hadn’t anticipated, using motion blur to capture the rider’s connection with the horse.

Reflection and Selection: After returning, I let the images sit for a while before selecting the final shots. This distance helps me see each image with fresh eyes, enabling a more objective selection. Photography is often a game of refinement, where I may only choose 5-10 images from thousands, evaluating elements like framing, light, story and whether the shot offers a fresh perspective.

Editing Ethics: I adhere to journalistic integrity, keeping editing to a minimum. I avoid adding or removing elements, striving to capture the story authentically in the frame rather than creating it in post-processing. This commitment to authenticity is fundamental to my work.

Each stage in the process — planning, capturing and refining — reflects my dedication to telling honest, powerful stories through photography.

Tell us about where your inspiration for your art comes from.
My inspiration often comes from nature. The complex dance between the strength of the elements, the sheer beauty of the scenes, the changing light within one half-turn of the sun, the sheer unpredictability, the promise or hope of an even better sight “at the next bend,” the conflict between “right now” because I am there and “perhaps tomorrow or next year.” And if that’s not difficult enough, let’s see if we can find an actor in the scene — wildlife or someone, something else interacting within the scape.

Do you have a specific “beat” you like best – nature, food, profiles, etc.?
I enjoy nature and wildlife photography a great deal for all the reasons already outlined. That said, I also enjoy capturing moments of human experience.

Do you have one piece of art that means more to you or is extremely special to you?
Of the pieces of art we have, the one that comes to mind is the one we do not have in our possession quite yet. In the Northwest, we have a rich tradition of native art, and there is a Totem being carved for my wife and me as of the answering of this question. The story around this Totem begins with the artist himself, a Salish tribal member who spent 25 years in prison for a triple murder he did not commit. During his time in captivity, he “dealt” with the trauma of wrongful incarceration by developing his native art skills to include painting and carving. Following his recent release, he continues to practice his art and is carving a totem for us. The spirit animals depicted on the Totem will be the Wolf (loyalty, family, strength, intelligence), the Eagle (strength, peace, leadership, the Raven (change and transformation) on one Eagle Wing and an Orca (strength of family bond and love) on another Eagle Wing, the whole sitting on the shoulders of the Bear (strength, vitality, courage) holding onto a Salmon (fertility, prosperity, renewal).

What experiences in your life have affected your art the most?
The experiences that have most impacted my photography have come through the things that come from travel: Improving the “seeing” when engaging with new people and new environments, different cultures with different languages, different foods and different habits, “seeing” new ways to believe and new things to believe in.

If we want to see more of your work, where should we go to find it?
All are welcome to visit me at www.alexbogaard.com and my gallery in Cle Elum, Washington. Only some of my work can be seen on the website or in the gallery, so feel free to reach out and begin a conversation via email [email protected] or through Instagram @alexbogaard.

What is next for you? Anything you’re working on right now that you’re really excited about?
Every year, I try to find a project in my community for which I can do pro-bono work to support their cause. This year, I am especially excited to help support the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. One of the photos I submitted is a signature piece that will be used to help fundraising for an upcoming capital campaign to improve the facilities currently housing the Chimpanzees. This particular Sanctuary is the only sanctioned sanctuary in the western half of the country.

Lastly, how do you take your coffee? (We ask everyone!)
I am mainly a tea drinker, but when I do treat myself to a coffee, it is a foamy, creamy, earthy, full-milk latte.

About ‘Artist of the Week’: This city is packed with artists we love to feature weekly on Seattle Refined! If you have a local artist in mind that you would like to see featured, let us know at [email protected]. And if you’re wondering just what constitutes art, that’s the beauty of it; it’s up to you! See all of our past Artists of the Week in our dedicated section.