Nurtured by Nature With Douglas DeVore

An Exploration of Douglas Devore’s Nature-Inspired Photography and Process

Throughout the halls and open dining areas of the new Downhill Ski Lodge are some of the most stunning images of Truckee Tahoe’s natural landscapes, a technicolor gallery of mountain ridges, high-alpine flora, meandering creeks, majestic forests and that mystical alpenglow shot by award-winning local photographer and Tahoe Donner member Douglas DeVore. With mural-sized prints showcasing vibrant colors and crisp, lifelike resolution, DeVore’s artwork brings an awe-inspiring sense of the outdoors to Downhill’s indoor spaces, softening its modern, industrial interiors with tranquil images of Mother Nature in all her glory.

“Tahoe Dawn” by Douglas Devore hangs in one of the dining areas at Downhill Ski Resort. Shot by Cynthia Cendreda.

Learn more about the artist behind the lens in this brief Q+A that highlights his passion, process and long-time partnership with Tahoe Donner:

Cynthia Cendreda: How did you go about curating and installing the images for the new Downhill Ski Lodge? Did you already have some in mind, or were you waiting to see the spaces first?

“Euer Valley Splendor” by Douglas Devore hangs above the staircase at Downhill Ski Resort. Shot by Cynthia Cendreda.

Douglas DeVore: I was lucky enough to tour the space a few times during the various phases of construction. The Tahoe Donner staff and I worked together to pick a series of images that worked together to feature the beauty of our area in all seasons. You can even see an authentic Tahoe Donner snowflake magnified to one-thousand times its current size.

“Tahoe Crystal” by Douglas Devore hanging in the main entrance at Downhill Ski Resort.

CC: What sort of planning goes into shooting these almost surreal landscape images? And, what does your setup look like (for all the landscape photography enthusiasts out there)?

DD: Planning usually involves a lot of scouting, using apps to determine sun or Milky Way positions, and checking sunrise and sunset forecasts. Nine times out of ten, I come back without the shot, but I still have fun. As far as setup, I’m a huge gear nerd. While I love using macro extension tubes, star trackers, drones, underwater housings, laser alignments and my Canon R5, sometimes a shot will just appear, and I’ll just pull out my iPhone.

“Hitchhiker’s Guide” by Douglas Devore hangs in one of the dining areas at Downhill Ski Resort. Shot by Cynthia Cendreda.

CC: I read in your artist bio that you are a two-time Emmy Award winner for your work as a director and editor for PBS series and NBC affiliate programming, and the director of internationally acclaimed short films, as well as being listed as an inventor on several Apple, Inc. patents for video and photography applications. With such an extensive and impressive resume in film, plus a family and all your many sports and recreational interests, how do you find time for your photography pursuits?

DD: I absolutely love living here in Tahoe Donner. I can’t imagine a better place full of so many exciting things to do. And while I don’t get to do photography as much as I’d like, it’s because I’m distracted by such a myriad of other amazing opportunities, friends and family. When there’s fresh snow, it can be tough to decide whether to pull out the photography gear or the ski gear.

“Hitchhiker’s Guide” by Douglas Devore hangs in one of the dining areas at Downhill Ski Resort. Shot by Cynthia Cendreda.

“Snowbird at Dusk” by Douglas Devore hangs in the Downhill Bar, shot by Cynthia Cendreda.

CC: Where else can we see your work in Tahoe Donner, and how long have you been in partnership with the association?

DD: I’ve been providing photography to Tahoe Donner for about five years. You can find my work at Pizza on the Hill, Trout Creek Recreation Center, The Lodge Restaurant & Pub and Northwoods Clubhouse. The amazing prints at Alder Creek Adventure Center are those of Elizabeth and Olof Carmel, longtime Tahoe Donner residents, friends and the inspiration for a lot of my work.

CC: Tell us a little bit about your latest endeavor, Ridgeline Gallery?

DD: Remember that part where you asked me how I find time to do all this stuff? Yeah, this was me maybe going a little too far. But it’s been fun – I really love talking to and meeting new people, visitors and locals and geeking out with other photographers and artists. Having a gallery right in the middle of downtown has been a great experience.

TD resident and photographer Douglas Devore with business partner Piper Johnson at Ridgeline Gallery. Photo provided by Douglas Devore.

CC: As a self-professed nerd/geek, you seem to possess a profound and unrelenting desire to create, whether films, photos or software. The world is better for it, so may I ask, what can we look forward to next?

DD: Oh gosh, I have no idea! Maybe something to do with chocolate? My family would probably appreciate that.

Check out More of Douglas Devore’s Work at Ridgeline Gallery

Located in Historic Downtown Truckee, Ridgeline Gallery, co-owned by Douglas DeVore and visual artist and curator Piper Johnson, is a welcoming art venue that seeks to inspire collectors while supporting local and regional artists in a fresh and vibrant space. Showcasing a variety of original artwork, from photography, oil, acrylic and mixed media on canvas to ceramics, stainless steel sculpture and other nature-inspired mediums, Ridgeline Gallery offers an organic experience with which to immerse yourself in stunning pieces inspired by the beauty of the Sierras.

Both DeVore and Johnson also offer comprehensive services in curation, installing exhibitions, art consulting and coordinating custom commissions. Located at 10104 Donner Pass Road, visit their website for hours, events and more