Tim Zandee’s “Walking with Wonder”
Photographer Tim Zandee has spent years capturing the quiet beauty of the natural world through his lens. His new coffee table book, “Walking with Wonder,” is a collection of those moments – an invitation to slow down, look more closely and experience the awe found in everyday landscapes and wildlife. Steamboat Magazine caught up with Tim to talk about the inspiration behind “Walking with Wonder,” his creative process and the stories behind some of his favorite images. The book will be available for purchase during the First Friday ArtWalk on Friday, Aug. 7 from 5–8 p.m. at his downtown gallery.
Steamboat Magazine: What inspired you to turn your photography into a coffee table book?
Tim Zandee: I've been a full-time artist for 22 years. To be honest, people were encouraging me to create a coffee table book three or four years ago, but I just wasn't ready. Now, with my own gallery and more people discovering my work, it felt like the right time.
I also find myself in a different place in life. At 55, I've become much more contemplative and filled with gratitude. I didn't want this to be a typical travel or photography book. I wanted to tell the stories behind the images. The book is more vulnerable because I write not only about gratitude, but also about life's trials and hardships.
At its heart, “Walking with Wonder” is about how nature supports our mental health. Not every story focuses on that, but many of them do. Readers will see times when I was struggling and how spending time outdoors, whether for 20 minutes or two days, helped bring clarity and healing.
One of the most personal stories is about losing my dad. I didn't want to get out of bed, but I drove to Yampa, strapped on snowshoes and spent time photographing the snowy landscape. By the time I returned to my gallery, I felt lighter and more at peace. That's really what this book is about.
SM: What do you hope people will take away from “Walking with Wonder?”
TZ: I hope people connect with both the photographs and the stories behind them. More than anything, I hope the book encourages readers to slow down – to enjoy silence, spend time alone in nature, put away their phones and find a little peace and wisdom in the natural world.
I hope they see the beauty that inspires me, reflect on their own experiences in nature, and recognize the gratitude that has shaped both my work and my life.