The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1408472
come in accordance with the inspiration he draws from new places and experiences. From Canadian lakes to Norwegian fjords, the green Highlands of Iceland to the rushing waters of Patagonian streams, Strohl sets out to capture more than what exists on the surface level. It's not just the picturesque qualities of his photography, however, that have reached people from all different backgrounds. It is the feeling they evoke; the man regarding the French Alps in a tranquil kind of wonder. Partners, depicted only by their shoes, keeping close company while looking out across a Montana lake. A cluster of mountains being lightly touched by hints of a rising sun. Moments that are, in all their beauty and distinctiveness, utterly human. "What photography has done is really force me to analyze these moments more and try to deconstruct them," Strohl said. "You can capture a landscape, but I think that the real challenge is capturing the essence of a landscape. The essence is not what you see— it's what you feel, or smell, or hear. All of that plays into account." When asked of his favorite works, Strohl took a moment to reflect. "My favorite experience is the one I haven't had yet," he said. "It's always the expectation of more, the constant craving for new things, new places, and new feelings. It's a beautiful thing." His favorite place to go to, however, is his home in Whitefish, Montana— a state named, quite literally, after its evergreen peaks that form the Rockies. The scenery of palatial mountains, expanses of green valley, and towering trees makes for an idyllic setting for a nature-loving photographer. Returning home with a set of new eyes and discovering things within the landscape that he had not noticed previously places him back in the innocent discovery of his home that got him into travel photography in the first place— though he now sets off on his adventures with his friends and his partner, Andrea Dabene. So, what sets Strohl apart from the others? Why have we all been so mesmerized by his work? Plainly put, we see ourselves in his work. We are able to relate to Strohl as a fellow human being, and allow ourselves to be immersed in the moment he has granted us to experience with him. If we cannot relate the precious imagery to our own travels, we can easily place ourselves in the photos that embrace the very human qualities of discoveries in nature as if we, too, were there. In this, Strohl has achieved what he started out to do— enchant and include those around him with moments from his own story.

