Sequim photographer Ross Hamilton dies at age 83

As one of many space’s most well-known panorama photographers capturing the Olympic Peninsula, Ross Hamilton spent a lifetime searching for the precise mild and moments to seize.

To mates, he encapsulated a guiding mild.

“He and his family, going generations back, have meant so much to the community,” mentioned Judy Reandeau Stipe, government director of Sequim Museum and Arts.

“He was on the original charter board that got the museum nonprofit incorporated, and he was a bright and shining light for the things he did for the museum and the community. I personally loved him. He was just there for anyone who needed him.”

Hamilton died on the age of 83 on Feb. 10 in his Sequim house.

A memorial service might be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at Dungeness Community Church, 45 Eberle Lane in Sequim.

His household asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Port Angeles Symphony, Sequim Museum and Arts, and/or Dungeness Community Church.

His native pictures could be seen throughout the peninsula, together with the Lodge at Sherwood Village and contained in the Sequim Museum and Arts the place massive negatives of the Olympic Mountains dangle over the doorway.

Hamilton mentioned in 2015 he may nonetheless vividly image the primary time he noticed the Olympic Mountains.

“I came over the top of the hill in Shelton and saw those mountains and said, ‘Yes, this is where I belong,’” he mentioned.

In a 2023 interview, he mentioned that he considered the Olympic Mountains as priceless jewels, and that he completely loved sharing their magnificence with folks in order that they may higher admire the place they reside.

Life as a photographer “has been such a rewarding adventure,” Hamilton mentioned.

“It’s a beautiful world, and it was such a privilege to record it in a way that showed what it really is.”

Claus Naehrig, who was mates with Hamilton via church, mentioned whereas on hikes, Hamilton may describe all the main points of the Olympic Mountains.

“It was just a joy to have someone who knew the ins and outs of the Olympics,” he mentioned. “They were instilled in his mind.”

Hamilton was additionally identified for sharing the great thing about the world via his annual calendars “The Olympic Peninsula” for two-plus a long time, and he printed the ebook “The Olympics, a Wilderness Trilogy.”

Describing his course of, Hamilton mentioned he would intentionally use a restricted quantity of movie to fastidiously create compositions by ready for simply the precise second to push the shutter button.

“At the top of my game it took me about a half hour to take a picture,” he mentioned.

He spent the summer season of 1966 finding out underneath Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park, which he referred to as the “happiest summer of his life.”

Sequim Gazette file picture by Emily Matthiessen/
Photographer Ross Hamilton, pictured in 2023, displays on his years of capturing the great thing about the Olympic Peninsula previous to a presentation on the Lodge at Sherwood Village. Several of his photographs are displayed all through the constructing.

Hamilton involves Sequim

Hamilton’s household coming to Sequim dates again to his great-grandfather William settling within the space within the Eighteen Eighties. His father Oliver was Sequim’s mayor at one level, too. However, Hamilton grew up in Burbank, California. He obtained his first digicam at age 9 from his mother and father however mentioned in interviews he didn’t critically pursue pictures till the Nineteen Seventies. He didn’t turn out to be a full-time photographer till the Nineties, he mentioned.

After graduating from UCLA with a Master’s in advertising and marketing, Hamilton adopted his mother and father to Sequim in 1969.

He labored retail whereas constructing his pictures enterprise, first on the People’s Store in Port Angeles after which about 20 years between Southwoods and Frick’s.

Tim Richards, pastor of Dungeness Community Church the place Hamilton was an elder for a lot of a long time, mentioned Hamilton was his boss as an assistant supervisor at Southwoods.

After expressing an curiosity in pictures, Hamilton taught Richards easy methods to use a digicam, they usually went backpacking collectively and developed a fantastic friendship.

In January, the church honored Hamilton as Elder Emeritus for his years of service.

“Ross was a guiding influential voice in DCC for 40 years,” Richards mentioned.

“For a majority of the church’s history, Ross has been that steady, wise influence.”

Friends on the church echoed type phrases about Hamilton.

Mark Holloway, a church elder who has identified him for 20-plus years, mentioned he was a form man who had a whole lot of knowledge, was affected person, and considerate about easy methods to tackle issues.

“He always seems to ask the right questions,” he mentioned.

File picture by Ross Hamilton
This picture by Ross Hamilton options Hurricane Ridge Road within the winter. It was utilized in Hamilton’s “The Olympic Peninsula” calendar.

Hamilton was additionally devoted and chronic in doing what he dedicated to do.

He continued to host conferences for the church’s Community Engagement Team at his house till a number of weeks in the past, Holloway mentioned.

Another church-goer Anita Kreitle mentioned she has fond recollections of going with him and mates to the Port Angeles Symphony and on hikes.

In 2017, she and a small group went to Yosemite National Park, and Hamilton subtly really helpful they put on a raincoat as a result of they may get moist regardless of it being a sunny day at Bridalveil Falls. They obtained soaked, she mentioned.

“I have sweet memories of a man who lived well,” Kreitle mentioned. “He was truly a man of integrity and very humble.”

File picture courtesy of Hamilton household/
Kathy Barnes and Ross Hamilton exchanged vows on July 1, 2018 in Sequim. Hamilton had been a bachelor his whole life and reconnected with Barnes, his childhood good friend.

Love and imaginative and prescient

While nonetheless placing out calendars and main displays with assist from household and mates, Hamilton started to lose his imaginative and prescient to glaucoma in 2000.

With diminished imaginative and prescient, he mentioned it pressured him to work together and rely extra on folks.

“By nature I’m a recluse, but I’ve learned to really appreciate and love people and their beauty,” he mentioned.

As a lifelong bachelor, Hamilton additionally reconnected together with his childhood good friend Kathy (Haney) Barnes late of their lives.

While on a visit to Victoria, B.C., Kathy mentioned she noticed Sequim on the map, which sparked recollections, main her to succeed in out to Hamilton and reconnect.

She finally relocated to Sequim.

Hamilton mentioned he was pleased with the friendship, however Kathy hoped for extra from their relationship. One day she instructed him, “I’m at peace,” resulting in a change in his perspective, he mentioned.

Hamilton prayed about whether or not he ought to ask her to marry him, which was new territory for him.

He requested Kathy to marry him on June 1, 2018 whereas on a picnic outing on the Dungeness Spit. They have been married a month later by Richards.