Focusing so much of my time and effort on attempting to document our native trout species in their natural environment is a labor of love for me. I could say I got the idea while observing a school of hundreds of brook trout and Klamath rainbows hovering over an aquamarine seep amongst the lava rocks of the headwaters of the Williamson in Oregon’s high dessert. Or maybe it came to me while scouting waterfalls deep in the Wilderness of the Purcells and seeing fifteen pound bull trout scurry off their gravel bar redds and attempting to eat sixteen inch long Westslope Cutties. In reality it has been a lifelong connection with the natural world which I have fostered through activities as diverse as ski touring in Alaska to kayaking remote creeks on the Olympic Peninsula. These photos are my way of sharing the stunning circle of life that all of us are part of.

While equipment and techniques used vary according to location, one thing that always rings true is that it takes a confluence of events for me to capture an image that will make an impact. Rivers are the most dynamic environment on earth and our native fish species are constantly adjusting to this dynamism. The first hard frost of the year sees me pouring over google earth, searching for potential freshwater seeps in the most remote corners of Yellowstone’s deadfall-infested marshes, where I know brilliantly colored brookies will be staging for their spawn. Just after the first heavy snow in the high country, when the Cottonwoods are a deep yellow, finds me stumbling over barb wire fences in search of a plug of hook nose browns charging headlong out of a reservoir for their fall ritual. Finding these spots during these moments is the key to having a chance to get that shot.

My goal is not a photo documenting something. It is to create an image that stands as a piece of fine art as well as doing the location and species justice. Marrying the perfection of a red bellied Westslope Cutthroat to the kaleidoscope glacial scree bottom of a gin clear Glacier Park creek takes all the pieces to fall into place. Only when all the stars align do these places give up that image that exists in my mind. My main focus with photography has been the fine art side of the business and I have found printing my images on canvas enhances their beauty. I enjoy displaying my artwork at galleries and outdoor fine art festivals throughout the west.

The wilderness has been more than a place for me to find a challenge, it is a place to reconnect with a natural world that modern life too often pulls us away from. While it seems like just yesterday that I was standing on a street corner selling three dollar greeting cards from my first point and shoot, in reality it has been a long journey that I would never trade for anything. It has only been through the support of friends and family that I have traveled through this difficult learning curve and continue to be able to pursue my passions. I hope you enjoy these moments I have captured and share them with your friends.
Pat Clayton- The FishEyeGuy
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