We recently connected with Denise Dethlefsen and have shared our conversation below.

Denise, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I wish I’d started sooner. I’m very introverted – much more than most people realize – and have had very little self-confidence or desire to ‘put myself out there.’ On the other side of the coin, I have the dream of presenting my art photography and building a business where my art can be seen in offices, lobbies, and conference rooms in corporate spaces, as well as in clinics, wellness spaces, and homes.

Lacking the inclination to meet my dream halfway has been a huge stumbling block. I wouldn’t attend networking events, put prints in public spaces to get them seen, or build relationships with galleries or other venues because it meant engaging with real people. I was much happier putting work into digital competitions, posting something now and then, and generally not making a lot of effort at personal interactions.

Currently, I’m trying to push past the inertia of doing very little, and this interview plus several other, more public, efforts to get my name more well-known are part of that. I’m regularly posting my art, entering more competitions, looking for new avenues of personal and digital networking, and forcing myself to review my art offerings more critically to cull out lesser pieces in favor of those that resonate. I’m still looking for new ways to consistently put myself and my art into the view of more people.

I’d used full-time work responsibilities and the feeling that I didn’t have enough to offer as excuses for not starting sooner, but looking back, they were just that – excuses. Looking forward, I want to challenge my preconceptions about not being good enough, and to work toward visibility and success. Right now, it’s a work in progress!

“Departure”

“Dalhart Elevator”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Denise Dethlefsen, a fine art photographer currently based at the foot of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I grew up in Montana and still call the Bitterroot Mountains my “heart home.” My journey into art started with a desire to capture the views and landscapes I saw around me. So, when my husband gifted me a camera one year for our anniversary, I immediately began shooting everything I could. I’m mainly self-taught, with some mentoring and a few classes early on. I come from a family of artists, musicians, and writers, but it was the camera that finally let me visually translate what I see and feel.

My husband and I have been married for nearly 50 years, and he’s always been tremendously supportive of anything I do. We’ve lived in eastern Montana, on the Oregon coast, far northern California, and now, in Colorado. We joke that we wish we’d discovered Colorado 20 years earlier! We absolutely love this gorgeous part of the world. We bought a teardrop camper to keep sane during the pandemic lockdowns, and explore the mountains, canyons, prairies, and deserts of this and several surrounding states from our tiny home away from home.

I’m the creative behind Denise Dethlefsen Photography and my art can be found at www.photoartbydenise.com and at www.denisedethlefsen.com. I’m embracing the title of independent artist because I frequently choose art by independent creators as wedding, baby, and personal gifts for my own friends. This type of gift just feels more thoughtful. I’m enthusiastic about being someone who can provide such personalized items for others to give when they wish. And when they want beautiful art surrounding them, I’m happy to help them discover artworks that resonate with their own story and surroundings.

My art is rooted in the belief that much of what we see around us – whether it’s a weathered sign, the stark geometry of a vacant building, an odd detail, a wildlife portrait, or an experiment using intentional camera movement – holds a narrative worth telling. I’m drawn to scenes that hint at stories beneath the surface and that invite viewers to look closer and ask questions. I seldom pre-plan details of my photo adventures, preferring to have a loose agenda that leaves me free to embrace the unknown. I try to let the process simply unfold, even when that leads in unexpected directions, either in capturing new images or in post-processing.

Those who collect my work are looking for art that’s driven by discovery and storytelling. It’s not always about the immediate visual elements because many of my photographs include implied questions, whimsy, and even loss and abandonment. There’s always a story waiting to be discovered, and I try to leave it to the interpretation of the viewer. I love it when my images inspire others to share their own stories or see their surroundings with fresh eyes.

My artworks can be purchased as prints on fine art paper, canvas, metal, or acrylic in sizes to suit the space they are destined to grace. I’m always available to answer questions about color, placement, gallery wall ideas, mood, and more.

“Daddy Sold the Water Rights”

“At the Corner of Love and Abandonment”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being an artist frees my curiosity, imagination, and desire to keep learning. While I’m culling and beginning to post-process my images, I’ll often do research. For example, traveling to different places for photos leads to research about history, geology, nearby locations, and more. I look up place names of peaks, rivers, highways, and scenic points to make sure my image notes are accurate. Wildlife and botanical photos lead me to research the species, their scientific names, habitats, or other features. For example, I’ll follow ‘bunny trails’ about plant toxicity or medicinal uses. I’ve learned a lot about the crazy geology of parts of Colorado, and wish I knew much more. Many times, the research alone is interesting and relaxing, but I frequently incorporate tidbits I’ve learned into my blog.

The ability to travel with my husband, who is my driver, trip planner, camping buddy, and frequent scene spotter, is wonderful. We’ve traveled more than half of the 26 Scenic & Historic Byways found in Colorado, with the goal of conquering all of them. We’ve explored beautiful areas throughout Colorado, as well as parts of Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, New Mexico, and Utah in recent years (and put an estimated 40,000 miles on our teardrop camper!). I have images from New York, Georgia, and California on my website, too.

Finding whimsical, unusual, or simply overlooked mundane scenes keeps me interested in the world around me, and turning them into photo art that others enjoy is bonus. I experiment with abstract scenes and intentional camera movement to reduce distractions and build tension or energy. I’m always on the lookout for landscapes – both large and intimate – that are not the ‘cliche’ scenes that can be found anywhere. And I have a soft spot for abandoned buildings that have stories to tell, but aren’t giving them up easily.

“Runic Reflections”

“Have a ‘Grape’ Day!”

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I would say that I’m currently in the midst of a pivot.

I’ve been taking photographs casually for years, ever since my husband gifted me a camera. But as I mentioned earlier, I’m more introverted than I seem to be, and that fear of putting myself into personal contact with folks who could help me further my art photography business has been a severe hindrance. For example, I’ve entered art and photography competitions for years (and have had some modest success), but the vast majority of those were online. I’ve intermittently exhibited works in small venues and attended as many openings as I could. However, although I would often end up enjoying the actual opening, I’d ‘hide’ from follow-ups and networking.

Now that I’m semi-retired, I’m focusing on getting my photo art on view in more places. With that goal, I’ve changed my website and marketing plans, I’m entering more competitions, and I’m actively trying to network more. I post to social media frequently, and I’m slowly learning how to make reels, although I still hate that aspect of self-promotion.

I keep reminding myself that some famous people were also late bloomers: Julia Child, who wrote her first cookbook at age 50, and Grandma Moses, who did not begin her painting career until she was 78, are individuals I remind myself about when I’m feeling stuck. The work of Georgia O’Keeffe is extremely inspiring to me, and she continued to paint and sketch until a year or two before her death at 98 despite failing eyesight. It’s not too late to work toward succeeding at something I love.

This particular pivot feels like it will be quite rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.photoartbydenise.com, and www.denisedethlefsen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisedethlefsen
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseDPhotos/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-dethlefsen/

“Modern Religion”

“Autumn’s Colors”

Image Credits

Denise Dethlefsen