Hien’s Birthday Retreat

Somewhere in Wisconsin – April 2, 2016 – The morning after we’d arrived at the cabin, I woke up before everyone to go venture into the woods and see if there were any cool pictures to take. I was greeted with a light snow storm, with light winds that nibbled at my ungloved hands and kicked up small flurries of snow here and there. But I loved being immersed in the elements, and because the snow had all but melted away by the time everyone was up, I had a feeling that even though I was here to celebrate my friend’s 21st birthday, this experience was a gift for me. Photo by Louis Fine.

Somewhere in Wisconsin – April 2, 2016 – As Toua stoked the bonfire during our last night, I couldn’t help but admire how the glow of the fire danced across the tops of trees bathing in the darkness of the country night.  Photo by Louis Fine.

Somewhere in Wisconsin – April 2, 2016 – It was a chilly night in a forest shrouded by darkness with a silence so strong you could almost hear it, and yet, contrary to what horror movies and TV wanted me to think, in this sensual void I was more comfortable than I’d ever been. As these trees were separated from the darkness by the distant glow of our cabin lights, I knew this was an experience I’d never forget. In fact, I refused to. I knew I needed a tripod to do the long exposure required for this shot, but I hadn’t brought one with me. My solution? I built one out of a kitchen bar stool and a large stack of board games and magazines left by the cabin’s owners. Photo by Louis Fine.