Crystal Bakken Photography

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I'm a twenty three year old female photographer who currently lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I absolutely love nature and being outdoors especially traveling to different places I have never seen before. Photography is a big part of my life and its definitely what I want to do professionally. There isn't anything else that gives me more of a sense of freedom and beauty like capturing a great shot. When I go for long periods of time without shooting I don't feel myself and I don't have that rush like I do when I am shooting away! I give everything up and nothing else in the world matters when I am shooting. Its truly something that makes me extremely happy and calm with the world. I am a fully self taught photographer who loves exploring and experimenting with different lighting and angles. I like to learn new things every time I pick up my camera, that's what's so thrilling for me. I am now currently opening another door exploring and learning more about portraiture, lighting techniques, and HDR photography.
Story Behind My Photography
I get asked quite often how it is that I fell upon photography. I would like to say to all of you that it means a great deal to know that my supporters and fans want to know more about me. If I were asked a few years ago I would have shut down. I would have never of wanted to talk openly about myself or my past to anyone. It came a time in my life recently that I had enough with everything. I want people to see the real me and not that girl I would always hide behind years ago. I don't want to be known as someone that I truly am not. I would like to share with you some parts of my past.
It is indeed complicated in some sense and it goes really deep and way back. I can say proudly now that yes I had an extremely hard life growing up. I had a traumatic childhood followed by not having parents around to support or raise me. I had to grow up at such an early age and I never got to experience a normal upbringing. I was twisted and pulled through so many obstacles that weren't even mine. It was hard to know who I really was or if I was coming or going. For most my life I didn't understand my surroundings or even know who I really was inside or out.
Being hated, teased, nucleated, and emotionally bruised for many years really made me feel like I was imprisoned in a dark hole that I couldn't reach up top and climb out. After all the struggles I finally took one big step on my own. That decision was to switch schools so that I could graduate early. Hard work did pay off and I graduated one full year ahead of my class. The feeling of accomplishment felt great. After graduating I continued to work two jobs to save money. I moved out on my own a few months afterwards. I pushed myself to graduate early so I could get out on my own and separate myself from the hell I felt I was living everyday back at home.
Things were finally going well for me, until I received horrible news about my older brother late one night. Everything seemed to start all over again. My heart crumbled to the floor. The one person that seemed to keep me sane, the one person that inspired me the most was now gone. I asked god 'why me'? That dark place where I just came from was now back. I felt that god had it out for me all the time. I can still remember my body trembling as I stared with a blank stare at my older sister. I had no words to speak so tears to shed just numbness. It's been 3 years now since I had lost my 30 year old brother in a rock climbing accident.
As time went on afterwards I began to see how people really were and I learned a lot about my past that I didn't know because of him passing. For once in my life I felt I had finally found peace. I knew just then what I had to do to change my life around. I wouldn't have been able to know everything I know now if he were still here, sounds silly but it's the truth. He made me make the changes to my life that I don't think I could have done without his push of pain. In many ways he opened the door and let the light shine upon me. That experience has forever changed my life.
Through all my hard times I have always found calmness being outdoors. I absolutely love nature. I have always loved photography. Up until my brother passing I never put them two interests together. Sunsets being my most favorite I would watch them every night and think about him hoping that he was ok and praying that he wasn't in any pain when he died. I began to capture the skies on camera thinking of him and now 3 years later I still can't put my cameras down. After he passed that dark hole wasn't much there and I felt I could reach the top if I tried. That was about the time I really started focusing on my dreams and what I wanted out of life that being my passion for photography. Since then I have grabbed on and never looked back and I haven't fallen since.
In the end I truly feel my brother save my life, he opened my eyes to see so many things I never seen before. Most importantly it's because of him that I found my passion. He once told me to never stop dreaming and be the best I can be. I thought when he passed I would lose all the inspiration he had ever given me but it's the complete opposite. I live for him even more now and his death has inspired me to keep reaching for my dreams that much more because of him.
I am so intrigued by nature especially because of its powerfulness and emotion. I absolutely love getting caught up in storms because of the force it brings upon its surroundings. It's a thrill for me to capture storms and the sky because they are never the same twice. Pictures are more then just photographs, there are reasons behind what is being captured. My photographs are a moment in time captured but with a connection to my past that I hold tightly. Through photography I can share with you what I find beautiful and what some may pass on a day to day basis. It's just the little things that make a brighter day. Even the ugliest storm can have beauty somewhere within. Never take life for grated because you never know when your time is up. I am happy to know my brother died doing something he absolutely loved to do being outdoors. Enjoy just the little things that mean the most to you. I know I do everyday. My dreams are finally coming true. I am the most happiest I have ever been and I am so glad to share that with you.
I thank you so much for taking the time to read a part of my life. I hope my photographs will speak for themselves because after all life is such a beautiful thing to cherish. I hope I have inspired all of you that have read a part of my journey in life. Reach for your dreams and goals and never look back!
Much love to you all and thank you for all your ongoing support, sincerely Crystal Bakken

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Coming Soon
Wedding


Nature
WINDOW'S OF NATURE
Print Available
CLOUD WALL AT SUNDOWN
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LATE LIGHTNING
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GREENWAY DAM
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SUNS FENCE OF WHEAT
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WISH OF COLOR
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RAINBOW 2005 02
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TULIPS IN THE SKY
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FLAMING CLOUDS AT SUNDOWN
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OVERHEAD STORM CLOUD
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Architecture
WEATHERED AND RUSTED
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MORNING GLORY LIGHTHOUSE 02
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AERIAL LIFT BRIDGE TWILIGHT
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OVERHEAD STORM CLOUD
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SPLITROCK LIGHTHOUSE 07
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SPLITROCK LIGHTHOUSE 02
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Portraiture
JULIAN AT LAURA AND NEAL'S WEDDING MAY 12TH 2007
JULIAN AT LAURA AND NEAL'S WEDDING MAY 12TH 2007
JULIAN & MITCHEL AT LAURA AND NEAL'S WEDDING MAY 12TH 2007
SARA SPRING 2007
SARA SUMMER 2006
SELF PORTRAIT
LILY
SELF PORTRAIT
SUMMER RAIN

Macro
STRAWBERRY WATERDROP
CRAYOLA COLORS
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WATERDROPS
Print Available
Street
2004 CAVALIER COUPLE & 1998 SATURN SC2
1998 SATURN SC2
1998 SATURN SC2
1998 SATURN SC2 REFLECTION
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