We spoke with nature photographer, Jamie Mandell, about her interest in the High Line Canal.

Q: How long have you been a photographer?
A:I have been taking pictures since my high school photo class, but I think I became a photographer 10 years ago. I was studying in East Africa during my junior year of college and was incredibly inspired by the people, animals and landscapes of Kenya. I was hooked on trying to capture the essence of my exotic surroundings. I was in the middle of nowhere, several hours drive from the closest store and all I had was my point and shoot, but I made the most of it and used creativity and stupidity to take intimate portraits of varied subjects.

I love how the High Line connects such different parts of the city. You can walk along the trail and see huge mansions to 300 square foot apartments — from wide open meadows to crowded city streets.

Q:Do you often shoot landscapes?
A: I mostly shoot landscapes as well as candid shots of people in action.

Q: Why are you drawn to landscapes?
A: I have always felt most connected with the earth. There is something I find irresistible about how rocks are formed, why trees grow where they do and why flowers are the color they are. I find the absolute beauty of flora and fauna completely mesmerizing.  I can look at the same scene hundreds of times and see a new feature, a new beauty.

Q:How did you find out about and start taking pictures of the High Line Canal?
A: I moved to Denver in June of 2015 and spent the summer exploring the city and its surroundings. I had previously lived and worked in Glacier National Park in Montana. One of my favorite trails traversed an incredible rock face called the Garden Wall. The trail clung to the rock that looked out over the majestic glacier carved southern half of the park. They called the trail the Highline. I have also lived in New York City and loved walking along and taking pictures on western Manhattan’s old elevated railway track converted into a trail — also called the Highline. So, I was naturally fascinated by anything with the same name of two of my favorite trails.

Q: What do you like about taking pictures of the High Line Canal?
A: One thing I love about Denver’s High line Canal trail is how different the trail can be from place to place. You don’t have to walk very far to get a whole new perspective of the Canal and of the greater Denver Region.

Q: What is your favorite thing about the High Line Canal?
A: I love how the High Line connects such different parts of the city. You can walk along the trail and see huge mansions to 300 square foot apartments — from wide open meadows to crowded city streets. You can walk beside ponds and highways, through the foothills and onto the plains.

Q: What do you think your pictures capture and say about the Canal?
A: I hope my photos capture the variety of landscapes and environments that exist along the Canal and share the beauty of this asset as both a natural resource and for its ability to tie very different peoples together.