We had the good fortune of connecting with Sherri Harvey and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sherri, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do With your one wild and precious life? said Mary Oliver. The choices I make, as an educator, as a photographer and as a student of the world shapes every decision I make. I want my photos to testify to the very fact of BEING ALIVE. I had the good fortune to witness feral animals Kruger National Park via horseback safari in 2016 with a company called Wait A Little, and that trip changed me. The grace and ferocity of the South African landscape called forth a guttural, lifelong calling to tell the stories of the voiceless any way that I could. Seeing the shining tusks of elephants and the blunt horns of rhinos, talking with the docents and land managers of Kruger and witnessing the wide-open space they call home instilled in me a longing to give a voice to the voiceless. Since this trip, advocacy has become a priority. I live in service to the animals. I long for my next adventure. I await the opportunity of new lands and native people with which to view this blessed planet. My passions? Animals. Orangutans and Elephants. Anything horse-related: trail riding, three-day eventing, dog adventure hiking, traveling, storytelling, writing and of course, photography: I love the unusual. The untrodden path. Starfish and Coffee. All of these count as teachers. I am and have always been, a storyteller. As a writer, rider, animal advocate, and teacher who gets to call the San Francisco Bay area home. I hold a few university degrees, but, really, education comes in many forms…especially travel. And friends, animals, writing, reading, photos, siri, youtube…every step of my journey. All of these count as teachers. Every. Single. One. Go outside and play. Tell your story. Sing your song. Let the FERAL in me speak to the WILD in you. Let me help you tell your story. www.sunsherphotography.com.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It all started with my high school journalism class. As a photographer, writer and eco storyteller, many of my images have been published along with stories I have written for various magazines. My photos are about action. About commitment to living life out loud. About energy and zest. As a storyteller, I respect the fact that all living things share some sort of collective consciousness–some sort of ability to hold space and be in the moment. We humans have a lot to learn from our animal teachers–if only we would listen more. I am grateful for the many animal teachers I have had the good fortune to meet. I am a lifelong equestrian, nature-lover, dog friend and animal advocate. I am a lifelong teacher and student. I am solar-powered. Most days, I can be found riding my horses, hiking with dogs, or reading a book, carrying my camera for the next amazing shot. The stories we tell become our lives. WHat you think about, you bring about. Where can you make a difference in the world around you? How do you want the future of our planet to look? Be a part of that solution.
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?
Outdoors. Day 1: meet my horses. Walk with me through Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. Hug a horse, Hug a tree. Watch a bobcat scurry off. For dinner, come to my house to eat the romanesco and sweet pea ravioli my husband has grown from seed and cooked from scratch. Sip some of our golden huckleberry tea. Hold space with us. In the morning, we will head to Fort Funston, just south of SF, to play with all the off-leash dogs on the beach. Then we will drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to hike in the Marin Headlands. We will stop and get some cheese and crackers from Cowgirl Creamery to snack on all day. More hiking in Point Reyes along the national seashore where we can stop and watch the Tule elk. You won’t want to go home. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Orangutan Odysseys, Gary Sundin, Leif Cocks all deserve a shout. And Wait A Lil Safaris.
Website: www.sunsherphoto.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/@sherricoyote
Linkedin: Sherri Harvey
Facebook: Sherri Harvey
Other: www.sherriharvey.com
Image Credits
These are all my photos, except the one of me. That is by photographer Jim Skintauy.