I am Deena
IT'S A GOOD HARE DAY!
My love for photography started during my college days at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. During one summer break I decided to follow David Bowie across Europe and the United Kingdom. Over 20 concerts later, I had some really awesome photos that I photographed with my disc camera! And after returning from my extensive road trip I quickly got a job as a concert photographer for the college newspaper media insert, The Glass Onion. This was during the "grunge" era in the 1990s. And for over two years I had the opportunity to photograph bands like Nirvana, Sound Garden, Candlebox, Mudhoney, and many more. My photos have also appeared in other Seattle publications as well as a book written about the Seattle music scene, Loser.
After college I spent all my money to train to become a commercial airline pilot at a flight school at Boeing Field. With no extra money to spend on film or processing, I hung up the camera to actively pursue my career in the airline industry. I worked as a commercial airline pilot for over 20 years experienced in flying numerous aircraft, including type ratings in the Boeing 737, 757, and 767. For well over half of these years I performed as an Airline Captain. Luck would have it that several years ago, my airline career had an unexpected derailment, and I was forced to temporarily change paths.
My husband Knut and I live in Estes Park, Colorado near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. We live in the beautiful mountains of Colorado with their abundance of wildlife. I was naturally drawn to wildlife photography as a new, exciting chapter in my life. A bit different though from concert photography. I can be seen almost daily trying to find unique ways of photographing the wildlife in RMNP and the surrounding mountainous areas.
Photographing wildlife, really, is a way of life. Capturing unique photographs of animals in their natural habitat takes up most of my time. I pride myself on spending enough time with my furry friends, so they get used to my presence and I get to witness more of their natural behavior. This has taught me to enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains and the forests, and the wildlife that call those places home.
Patience is another thing I really had to learn. To sit outside for hours and hours in the heat or the cold is something I really never did before I picked up a camera to photograph wildlife. I have also learned to respect the fast changing Colorado weather, and I try to always be prepared for that potential mishap.
I am proud to have been shortlisted (Top 25) for the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice Award. It was exciting to be a part of the contest and to see my "Snowshoe Hare Stare" in the Natural History Museum in London this winter, 2023.
When I am not out photographing, I enjoy traveling to exotic places (I have traveled to almost 100 different countries), sailing, skiing, and being a slave to my two Continental Giant bunnies, Jackson and Cooper.
#deenasveinsson
Follow me on Instagram @deenasveinsson