More Than Oregon

For the past two years, I've had the privilege of being part of an online filmmaking community called More Than a Filmmaker, created by filmmaker Jordyn Dunseath. Although we had spent countless hours together through Zoom calls—sharing our work, encouraging one another, and growing as storytellers—we had never met in person.

That changed this summer.

Jordyn organized our very first More Than a Filmmaker retreat in Oregon, bringing together creators from around the world who shared one thing in common: a passion for telling stories through video.

Visiting Oregon was a bucket list item BUT I do not have a bucket list. LOL I had never been to the West Coast, never experienced the Pacific Northwest. I couldn't wait to see the beaches, waterfalls, forests, and nature that I had only seen in photographs and video.

I thought that was why I was going.

It didn't take long for me to realize I was wrong.

Shortly after meeting this incredible group of filmmakers in person, my perspective began to change. Standing beside people who shared the same passion for storytelling, exchanging ideas, encouraging one another, and learning from each other's experiences, I realized this journey was becoming about something much more meaningful.

As I stood before breathtaking waterfalls and towering sea stacks, the greatest beauty wasn't only in the landscapes before me.

It was in the gifted people standing beside me.

Creators who had traveled from around the world to experience Oregon, only to discover that the true gift wasn't simply where we were...

It was who we were becoming together. A trip that will stay with me forever.

This blog shares what was in my heart. If you'd like to experience the journey through my lens, I invite you to watch More Than Oregon | A Nature Filmmaker's Journey on YouTube.