Punchbowl Falls during a rare snow in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. On 1.26.2014 I yelled for help for the first time in...

Gratitude

Punchbowl Falls - Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Punchbowl Falls during a rare snow in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.

On 1.26.2014 I yelled for help for the first time in my life.

My friend and I headed to Cape Kiwanda because it was a beautiful day. It was more of an escape and day at the coast than it was a photographic outing. But yes.. I still took my gear with me.

We were walking around and with the tide fairly low.. went lower on the north side of the cape. The waves weren't crashing where we were but the rocks were wet and some.. slippery with seaweed. We looked around for a little bit and then I turned back when I heard my friend yell. I looked back to see her on her back sliding down a seaweed covered slope with a 10 ft. drop into the churning water at the end. She was just a couple of feet away and I instinctively stepped towards her and reached for her only to find myself sliding down that same slope. I knew I was going in.

I remember thinking as I was sliding that 'maybe' the water was shallow enough to stand in and that I'd land on my feet.. but knew that it wasn't. I was watching it from above and was thinking about how deep it would be. It looked pretty deep.

I ended up going in feet first and underwater. Yup. It was deep. Luckily I'm a strong swimmer. I looked around and didn't see my friend. Still unsure if she had actually fallen in I looked around... wondering what the hell I was going to do. I was in a 'chasm' surrounded by walls and the water was drawing me out. It was either find a way out here or go out to the dangerous cliffs. You know.. the cliffs that everyone takes photos of. I swam to the nearest wall that looked like I could grab a hold of something. I was happy to find a short ledge underwater that I was able to get footing on. The wall was covered in mussels and barnacles and the areas I tried to grab onto broke off in my hands. I looked around and saw my friend standing on the rocks above me. Somehow.. she had stopped sliding. Soon enough a huge sneaker wave came and washed over my head, hit the end of the chasm and then came back at me, knocking me off. Again I felt the waves pull me out.. that's when I yelled for help at the top of my lungs. I was scared. I didn't think I was going to be able to get out on my own.

Another surge came and pushed me back towards the wall. I was able to swim to it and grab on. This time I was in a different spot and I was able to stand on that same ledge but get a different handhold and foothold and lift myself up a couple of feet out of the water. The wall was still over my head and my friend had made her way over to me but couldn't reach me.. not to mention the rock above me was also covered in slippery seaweed. I took my bag off and threw it to her. Oh yeah.. did I mention that I had my bag on my back with all of my uninsured gear in it? Yeeeeeeah. I was then able to work my way out. A guy had come to help but there was little he could do. He tried to throw me a dog leash as I was climbing up but it was easier to do without it.

I was a little banged up physically. A couple scrapes.. a torn fingernail... but mostly I had a headache from the adrenaline rush and was emotionally excited. I can't get that vision of my friend sliding helplessly on her back towards the water out of my head. And the look on her face during it. It makes me sick and I still replay it in my head.

She's not a great swimmer.. so I'm happy that she was able to arrest her slip more than anything. And I'm lucky that I didn't take her in with me. We're very grateful to have walk away relatively unscathed. This was definitely the scariest moment in my life.

As for the gear.. my bag was on my back and I spent several minutes swimming in water with it. It was submerged. I dumped salt water out of my camera.

After a thorough inspection by a local camera repair shop,  my camera was deemed 'beyond economic repair'. My lens was damage in that the autofocus and image-stabilization motors were non-functioning. The quoted repair on the lens was $700.

With the financial hits I have taken in this past year, I did not have insurance on my gear. When it came down to the decision of child support and food on the table or insurance on my gear.. it lost out. I don't have a lot of money. But I think most people who know me know how much my photography means to me.

In the following days I was convinced by friends to take donations to replace my gear. What happened next blows my mind and gets my emotions flowing.. even thinking about it now. In two days... friends, family, and complete strangers pulled together and raised MORE than enough money for me to replace my gear. It's one of the most meaningful things that's ever happened to me.

A week or so later I had a new camera and a new lens.. just in time for a very rare snow storm in the Columbia River Gorge. My friend Tula and I hike to the popular Punch Bowl Falls on Eagle Creek. I had never shot this location but have hiked to and past it many times.

I spent a good hour here.. taking it in and shooting away. It was good to be out in the elements with my equipment. It's impossible to convey the emotion that was running through my veins... the warmth of this moment even as I stood waist deep in a frozen, rushing stream with snow coming down. It really put life and existence into perspective for me.

To be alive.. to have friends and family that care about me.. that support me.. and to get another chance means the world to me.

And for that I'll be forever grateful. Photo © copyright by TJ Thorne.


Artist Studio Print • Ready to Frame

Gratitude print

As an independent artist, I take immense pride in personally overseeing my entire creative process, from capturing the images to meticulously crafting the final prints. This hands-on approach enables me to present my work in the most authentic and exceptional manner possible, ensuring that each print meets the standards of my artistic vision. By choosing an Artist Studio Print, you not only acquire a piece of art but also invest in the dedication and passion that goes into every photograph that I create.

  • Hand-printed in my studio for utmost attention to detail.
  • Printed on heavy-weight, cotton-based, archival Canson Infinity paper using pigment-based inks.
  • Quickest turn-around time.

Please note that these prints require framing before display. I am happy to work with you on your framing needs. Please contact me to do so. For ready-to-hang options, please consider my Lumachrome Acrylic Face Mounted or Chromaluxe Metal Prints.

Shipping is included to locations within the United States. Please contact me for a shipping quote if you will have your purchase shipped elsewhere. To learn more about my prints, please visit my Prints page.

Need a size that's not listed? Not a problem. Simply contact me for a quote to get started.


Please allow 1-3 weeks for production and delivery.


Select a print size:

Lumachrome Fine Art Prints • Acrylic Face-Mounted and Ready to Hang

Lumachrome Fine Art Prints • Acrylic Face-Mounted and Ready to Hang

Premium Fine Art Lumachrome Prints are the epitome of elegance and quality. By face mounting the print to 1/8" thick scratch-resistant, non-reflective crystal clear acrylic and backing it with a protective surface and a 1.3" rear mounted frame, the print seemingly floats from the wall.

The proprietary Lumachrome process in combination with the acrylic facing gives a depth, dimensionality, and glow to the image which is unmatched and needs to be seen to believed. These pieces are museum quality, absolutely stunning, and truly a collectors piece.

Premium Fine Art Lumachrome Prints are ideal for galleries or private homes and with the proper lighting will take on a luminance that brings the photo to life. While these ready-to-hang pieces offer a modern, sleek, and clean appearance, traditional framing is also available and can be discussed one-on-one to pick the most appropriate frame for your piece.

Shipping is included to locations within the United States. Please contact me for a shipping quote if you will have your purchase shipped elsewhere. To learn more about my prints, please visit my Prints page.

Need a size that's not listed? Not a problem. Simply contact me for a quote to get started.


Please allow 2-4 weeks for production and delivery.


Select a print size:

Chromaluxe Fine Art Metal Prints • Ready to Hang

Chromaluxe Fine Art Metal Prints • Ready to Hang

If you are looking for a piece that combines durability with a modern and elegant look, I offer Premium Fine Art Metal Prints. Using a state-of-the-art process, the image is infused directly into the surface of specially coated aluminum which creates a scratch and fade resistant piece that is ready to hang without a frame.

Metal prints contain a tremendous amount of depth, detail, and sharpness that will be sure to draw the viewer in. Since the image is fused directly into the aluminum, the resulting piece is scratch and water resistant and will resist fading or yellowing over time while at the same time being easy to clean. These are the ideal for offices and public spaces due to their durability.

Shipping is included to locations within the United States. Please contact me for a shipping quote if you will have your purchase shipped elsewhere. To learn more about my prints, please visit my Prints page.

Need a size that's not listed? Not a problem. Simply contact me for a quote to get started.


Please allow 2-4 weeks for production and delivery.


Select a print size:

Limited Edition Artist Studio Prints • Ready to Frame

As an independent artist, I take immense pride in personally overseeing my entire creative process, from capturing the images to meticulously crafting the final prints. This hands-on approach enables me to present my work in the most authentic and exceptional manner possible, ensuring that each print meets the standards of my artistic vision. By choosing an Artist Studio Print, you not only acquire a piece of art but also invest in the dedication and passion that goes into every photograph that I create.

  • Hand-printed in my studio for utmost attention to detail.
  • Printed on heavy-weight, cotton-based, archival Canson Infinity paper using pigment-based inks.
  • Quickest turn-around time.

Please note that these prints require framing before display. I am happy to work with you on your framing needs. Please contact me to do so. For ready-to-hang options, please consider my Lumachrome Acrylic Face Mounted or Chromaluxe Metal Prints.

Shipping is included to locations within the United States. Please contact me for a shipping quote if you will have your purchase shipped elsewhere. To learn more about my prints, please visit my Prints page.

Need a size that's not listed? Not a problem. Simply contact me for a quote to get started.


Please allow 1-3 weeks for production and delivery.


Select a print size:

Limited Edition Lumachrome Fine Art Prints • Acrylic Face-Mounted and Ready to Hang

Limited Edition Lumachrome Fine Art Prints • Acrylic Face-Mounted and Ready to Hang

Premium Limited Edition Fine Art Lumachrome Prints are the epitome of elegance and quality. By face mounting the print to 1/8" thick scratch-resistant, non-reflective crystal clear acrylic and backing it with a protective surface and a 1.3" rear mounted frame, the print seemingly floats from the wall.

The proprietary Lumachrome process in combination with the acrylic facing gives a depth, dimensionality, and glow to the image which is unmatched and needs to be seen to believed. These pieces are museum quality, absolutely stunning, and truly a collectors piece.

Premium Fine Art Lumachrome Prints are ideal for galleries or private homes and with the proper lighting will take on a luminance that brings the photo to life. While these ready-to-hang pieces offer a modern, sleek, and clean appearance, traditional framing is also available and can be discussed one-on-one to pick the most appropriate frame for your piece.

Shipping is included to locations within the United States. Please contact me for a shipping quote if you will have your purchase shipped elsewhere. To learn more about my prints, please visit my Prints page.

Need a size that's not listed? Not a problem. Simply contact me for a quote to get started.


Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.


Select a print size:

Limited Edition Chromaluxe Fine Art Metal Prints • Ready to Hang

Limited Edition Chromaluxe Fine Art Metal Prints • Ready to Hang

If you are looking for a piece that combines durability with a modern and elegant look, I offer Premium Limited Edition Fine Art Metal Prints. Using a state-of-the-art process, the image is infused directly into the surface of specially coated aluminum which creates a scratch and fade resistant piece that is ready to hang without a frame.

Metal prints contain a tremendous amount of depth, detail, and sharpness that will be sure to draw the viewer in. Since the image is fused directly into the aluminum, the resulting piece is scratch and water resistant and will resist fading or yellowing over time while at the same time being easy to clean. These are the ideal for offices and public spaces due to their durability.

Shipping is included to locations within the United States. Please contact me for a shipping quote if you will have your purchase shipped elsewhere. To learn more about my prints, please visit my Prints page.

Need a size that's not listed? Not a problem. Simply contact me for a quote to get started.


Please allow 2-3 weeks for production and delivery.


Select a print size:

Shipping is included to locations within the United States. Please contact me for a shipping quote if you will have your purchase shipped elsewhere. To learn more about my Limited Edition Fine Art Prints, please visit my Prints Page

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