Meet Betsy Botsford | Landscape Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Betsy Botsford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Betsy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I was 15 years old my family went to Seattle. It was one of the first times I had left my small town in New Mexico. The “big city” was so exciting but came with all the big city problems including homelessness. We had been down to the Pike Place Market one day and had just finished a luxuriously delicious late lunch. I had a shrimp salad that I still remember today. It was so good. I left the restaurant well satiated and happy. As we stepped out of the restaurant there was a homeless person laying in the gutter outside. My heart broke. I asked my mother if we could give him some money. She said “no that will only exacerbate the problem.” I was 15 years old. I didn’t understand the complexities of homelessness. I just understood the pain. I vowed that when I was older and more financially stable I would do something to help.

Point of Light Photo is my answer. Inspired by the 1000 Points of Light Initiative, Point of Light Photo was founded to help shine light into the world. All the profits from the sale of my photography are donated to organizations that work towards ending the pain of homelessness. Whether that is by providing food, or helping a homeless person get back a birth certificate so they can qualify for state aid, or clothing a person with the bare necessities of clean socks and underwear, a luxury we take for granted every day.

Last year a portion of the profits from Point of Light Photo was donated to Street Dogz LV. Street Dogz is an organization that takes care of the pets of homeless people should they become hospitalized or incapacitated. Can you imagine the fear of leaving your best friend while you are hospitalized and not knowing if you will see their face again? Street Dogz provides care for the animal while their owner cannot. They also provide food and clothing for the homeless population.

Profits have also been donated to One to One mentoring in Telluride, Colorado to help at risk youth thus preventing homelessness in our teenage population. Second Chance Humane Society in Ridgway, Colorado and Best Friends Animal Society have also received profits from Point of Light Photo because homelessness does not only affect humans. Animals deserve a safe, warm place to sleep and good food to nourish them.

I remain passionate about photography because of this philanthropic work; because I know my efforts are making someone’s life a little bit easier. If I can lift someone up through my work then I have made an impact. The causes of homelessness are multi-factorial and not easily fixed but I know my work helps ease some pain and that keeps me inspired.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am actually a physical therapist by trade. I have taken many “personality tests” that show I am equally left and right brained. Working in medicine allows me to think analytically but I’ve always been drawn to creating. I am drawn to photography as a means of expression. I love being outside. It is where there is peace and clarity of mind. I have experienced some of the most breathtaking moments in the wilderness. I started photography as a means to capture those amazing moments so I could bring them home to share with others. I was capturing that amazing moment in time and could relive it with everyone I knew. That way the experience multiplied and continued.

I was initially inspired by David Muench’s Wilderness posters that I saw when working for the Forest Service while in college. Then inspired by the work of David J West whose gallery outside of Zion National Park is awe inspiring. I wanted to go out and create images like that!

I began photographing the iconic locations, but now strive to find unique images that are mine and mine alone. This is not easy anymore as everyone with an iPhone is taking pictures. The world is saturated with images all day now through social media. What I strive for is a quiet but unique voice. I strive to tell the stories of the wild world we live near but rarely explore. I strive to show the beauty of our wild spaces and show the reverence we should show to these wild places. I try to impress upon my audience that life is outside the four walls of your house or the shopping mall. I try to impress upon others that love of wild places and love of your fellow creatures (animal or human) is universal and should be what we devote our energies towards instead of consumerism. I try to show that there is something larger than ourselves and we touch that divinity when we use our talents to give back.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to town I would start in Ouray Colorado with a slow, delicious dinner at Brickhouse 737 followed by a soak in the natural hot springs. Sunrise would be photographed at Crystal lake above Ouray on Red Mountain Pass followed by a hike up the Hayden trail. A yummy lunch and a nap would be warranted at the top of the hike where we would slow our breath and take in the 360 degree views. We would also have to hit up the hike to Blue Lakes outside of Ridgway Colorado to show my friend the deep azure blue of the high alpine lakes and the lush wildflowers that live up there. A drive to Telluride and a sweet gondola ride are necessary as well. A hike to bear creek falls, dinner in mountain village followed by a spa day is always in order. Finally a stop at the Colorado National Monument finishes the journey to show my friend the diversity of our high deserts.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to my mother Maria who taught me everything I know about love, compassion, kindness and how to see a person’s soul rather than the outside physical appearance. My mother has passed away but when alive was vitally involved in many charitable causes including the Delta Doves. She served as president of Delta Doves for many years helping disadvantaged women pay for their mammograms to prevent cancer.

I would also like to dedicate this Shoutout to my father Manton who taught me everything I know about composition and design. He supports me in so many ways and is deeply encouraging of both my photographic endeavors but also my philanthropic aspirations.

And finally to my brother Jed and his wife Ann who never fail in their unwavering support and kindness to me. My brother has donated his time and his snowmobiles to get me into the back country safely. Without his help, several of my images could not have been created. His efforts have allowed me to turn my visions into reality.

Website: www.pointoflightphoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointoflightphoto_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063487361741

Image Credits
Photo credit to Betsy Botsford, Point of Light Photo.