Having grown up in towns called Evergreen and Conifer, it’s almost as though she was born to be a mountain-lover! Meet Shoestring Adventures Triptographer Amanda Proudfit. Although she enjoys her life in LA, she often escapes the city (usually with her dog) to get her mountain fix. Wouldn’t you if you spent your formative years living at 8,000 feet?

She fell in love with photography in high school and enjoys shooting a variety of subjects but nature and travel are her favorite.

I’ve taken art classes my whole life but photography definitely became my greatest passion. 

We are excited that she has joined the team as a Triptographer. Continue reading to learn more about her and to find out her advice for aspiring outdoor photographers (spoiler: it involves a story about a bear). Explore her work on Instagram and on her website!

Shoestring Warrior: Amanda Proudfit

Hometown:

Conifer, CO

Current Location:

Long Beach, CA

Profession:

Freelance Photographer

What are your passions outside of work?

Hanging out with my dog, going on road trips, finding the best doughnuts in LA, and lately I’ve really been enjoying making ceramics!! Mostly wheel throwing. I’ve found it very calming, it’s one of my favorite day off activities.

Tell us about yourself!

I grew up at 8000 feet elevation in the mountain towns of Evergreen and Conifer, Colorado.

So all I knew was mountain life growing up (I feel so lucky for this!).

I’ve lived in Southern California for 4 1/2 years now, and would love to return to the mountains again to live someday, but LA has been a great change in my life to really understand what’s important to me (definitely seasons and a close proximity to the mountains!!). Luckily I’ve been able to work as a freelance photographer for the past two years, so I can escape from LA every once in awhile on road trips to the Sierras or Colorado and Utah to get my mountain fix.

How would you describe your level of camping experience?

I’d say intermediate. I definitely have a good hold on camping, backpacking is a whole other realm I’ve just barely scratched the surface of but definitely want to get more into!

Which Shoestring Adventures trips have you completed?

Ten Lakes Backpacking Adventure! Hoping to do more next year.

When did you first discover your love for photography?

In my high school darkroom film classes.

I loved spending time developing my film and watching images appear in the darkroom.

I’ve taken art classes my whole life but photography definitely became my greatest passion. I still have a strong love for film photography, my favorite camera is my Pentax 645, I don’t know what it is but that camera can’t take a bad photo.

People, animals, landscapes, inanimate objects, which do you prefer to shoot and why?

Can my answer be all of the above?? I shoot such a variety of things, but nature & travel are definitely favorites, because if I’m shooting those it very likely means I’m out on the road having fun. But I also love doing food photography…especially if I get to eat the food after!

Which photographers or artists inspire you the most?

One of my favorite artists right now is Mark Maggiori, a French artist who makes oil paintings of western scenes and landscapes and his work is so amazing, the clouds he paints are my favorite part of his work. Another favorite is John Fellows, a printmaker who lives in Colorado and does a lot of mountain themed work. We have two of his prints, I love his style. And of course I love seeing photos pop up on my feed from the Shoestring Adventures account! 😉

Where was your most favorite photo assignment and why did you enjoy it so much?

Not an assignment, but I love when I’m on solo road trips (not 100% solo as I usually have my dog with me) and can just take time to drive around and explore an area, stopping whenever I want to take photos, talking to other people doing the same thing or just in the same place at the same time as me.

I love any opportunity to just spend time outdoors, to get away from it all.

What advice do you have for aspiring outdoor photographers?

Remember to put down your camera every now and then and just enjoy the moment!

But… always have it easily accessible and at your side, because you never know when a bear is going to wander past your campsite (that happened). In that case, make sure you have a zoom lens always handy as well!

Now that you’ve been on a Shoestring Adventure as a Triptographer, can you tell us your favorite memory?

Jumping into Lake Tenaya after the Ten Lakes backpacking trip! After 3 days of hot weather backpacking, it felt sooo good to get in that cold water.

Where’s your next adventure?

Portland OR! Rainy weather exploring here I come!

The perfect s’more? (if you don’t like s’mores, what’s your favorite campfire dessert?)

I’m a purist, I just like the basics- Hershey’s, mallow, grahams. Nothing fancy!

Photos © 2017 Amanda Proudfit