BY MARSHA MORGAN
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
July 20, 2016
I recently had the opportunity to attend an excellent photography workshop taught by Keron Psillas at Coupeville’s renowned Pacific Northwest Art School. A part of every day’s work included venturing out of the classroom to complete photography assignments.

A barley field on the prairie and the Ferry house glow in the late summer evening. (photo by Julie Boyd)
One of the most fascinating aspects of the class, to me, was realizing how we all interpreted many of the same assignments with varying viewpoints—the same locations, but seen, by each of us, with very different “intention.”
We began to learn to reveal—to ourselves—what motivates each of us. What is it we feel compelled to convey? Are our eyes drawn to the larger landscape or the smaller details? Is it the light we long to capture or the serenity of the person on the trail? The rhythm of the barley in the wind? The mood of the sky?

The vista below Sunnyside cemetery (photo by Julie Boyd)
After the workshop I asked three participants, all South Whidbey residents, to send me images from Ebey’s Historical Preserve to use in this photo essay. These are the unique viewpoints of four photographers as they wandered the preserve.
My thanks to photographers Julie Boyd, Marie Plakos and Marcia Wesley.

Above the state beach parking lot looking up at the bluff trail (photo by Marcia Wesley)

A lone hiker walks the bluff trail (photo by Marcia Wesley)

A barley field shortly before harvest (photo by Marsha Morgan)

Hill Road looking east (photo by Marsha Morgan)

An old tractor on Ebey Road (photo by Julie Boyd)

Hay bales dot a field after harvest (photo by Marie Plakos)

A welcoming entrance (photo by Marie Plakos)

The porch of the Ferry House is a marked contrast to the modern harvester. (photo by Marie Plakos)

The block house of Isaac Ebey (photo by Marcia Wesley)

Bridge pilings cross Crockett Lake. (photo by Marsha Morgan)
The website for Pacific Northwest Art School is https://pacificnorthwestartschool.org. Keron’s Psillas’ website is http://www.keronpsillas.com.
Marsha Morgan is a staff photographer for Whidbey Life Magazine.
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Delightful article, Marsha, and beautifully written. All the photographs are wonderful but your are particularly stunning. I am so excited for you as you develop your “eye.” Thanks for sharing.
Ebey’s is a magical place. I never tire of seeing photos of its various incarnations. Thanks for revisiting a world-class site.