doe bay fest 2011

So, yeah. There was this thing called Doe Bay. I might have mentioned it a few times since April. If I’ve perhaps over-mentioned it, I’m truly sorry. But seriously, people – it lived up to its reputation. And how:

Doe Bay Fest 2011 from Jesse Michener on Vimeo.

I’ve started this post at least ten times and each time it’s not quite right. For me, the experience was right up there on the ol’ Things I’ll Remember Until I Die – but not in the ways I’d expect. I expected the headliners to blow me away: check. I expected the resort to live up to its reputation as beautiful, rustic and well-managed: check. I knew the staff to be amazingly good at what they do: check.

I didn’t expect to be moved to tears at distant melodies played among trees or on a bluff – far from sight but not from sound.

I didn’t expect to see the lines between performers and guests magically blurred after the first day – in fact, it was difficult to tell who was whom most of the time.

I didn’t expect my oldest daughter to make a very special friend – and, for the most part, without a bunch of adults mucking it up with romantic innuendo. She experienced freedom she’s never known to build a friendship under the watchful eye of a community who loved them both.

I didn’t expect  to pack wine in my camera bag, and then drink it while shooting, up to my knees in water. I needed it for the warmth, you see. The Puget Sound is cold.

And there’s more, lots more. Stuff I can’t unpack right now, stuff that will have to take some more time to come into focus. But those things are just for me right now. You understand, right?

For now, these pictures add to the tapestry of reflection going on all over the web. I hope I did some justice to the spirit of the event. Thanks in particular to Joe and everyone at Doe Bay and Artist Home. Thanks to The Head and the Heart for your kindness to our family, Bryan John Appleby for his permission to use The Silent Shepherd as my soundtrack, to all of the artists and guests who put up with me pointing my camera in your face all weekend and to the crew of Welcome to Doe Bay (A Documentary), who were supportive and encouraging to my work (and my daughter’s love of THATH), every step of the way. Thanks also to Sound on the Sound, who organized the “super secret” concert at Otter Cove. Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with! A lot more of my images live here, but these are some of my favorites: