The work of new artist Brooke Welch will be featured at Red West Contemporary Gallery for November’s First Friday Artwalk.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Most photographers search for crisp perfection. From the perfect moment to the perfect light.

Brooke Welch, however, has a different approach.

“I’m not looking for the perfect photo at that golden hour time of day,” Welch said. “I like to shoot in the middle of the day. I want that light, things that cut right into an image. What I love is if I can get an image and can use its imperfections as a way to bring my vision to life.”

The Denver native, who has an art history degree from Denver University, moved to Steamboat Springs with her family in February after a 15-year career in corporate commercial photography in Minnesota.

“When I moved back to Colorado, I felt as if my soul had been put back together again,” Welch said. “I picked up a camera again for the first time in years, started taking pictures and caught the bug again.”

This month, she is Red West Contemporary Gallery’s newest artist, and her work will be showcased during the gallery opening from 5 to 8 p.m. at First Friday Artwalk.

Since late July, her lens shifted its focus to create a new series of dynamic photography with images that capture animal portraits with a mountain modern twist.

“It’s a medium that has this ambiguity and blurs the lines of drawing and photography,” she said.

Welch said her style is derived from the vibrations of African color, the movement of meditative painting and the story of western photography that is deeply rooted in her past. Her work is also influenced by East Asian line work and movement of brush strokes.

Photographer Brooke Welch’s piece “Highland 2” depicts the Scottish Highland cattle from the  Glas Deffryn Ranch. (Courtesy photo)

The images take on their own personality and draw in the viewer.

“The eyes, they have so much depth and soul, it captures the emotion of the animal,” Welch said. “It gives the image a piece of connection, emotion – it hits you on a deeper level.”

“She has that innate ability to capture the character of each specific animal, and her special technique highlights the uniqueness of the Scottish Highland breed,” said Pam Williams, who owns Glas Deffryn Ranch with her husband, Steve.

Welch has spent time this fall on the Williams’ ranch collecting images for her new series featuring the Scottish Highland breed of cattle.

Her goal is to capture the most dynamic photo she can.

New photographer Brooke Welch’s piece “Blue & Gold Stag I” and more of her photograph’s will be on display at Red West Gallery during the First Friday Artwalk in Steamboat Springs on Friday.

“For me, being able to use Lightroom relates back to when I started taking pictures and used a dark room — this is the closest thing,” she said.

Lightroom, a photo editing tool from Adobe, gave her the ability to create what she couldn’t do with a drawing or a painting.

“What was in my head, I couldn’t quite get it to paper,” she said. “Photography and Lightroom as a tool gives me that vision in my head.”

Her work will be on display at Red West Contemporary Gallery throughout the month of November.

One of artist Brooke Welch’s pieces. (Courtesy photo)

To reach Audrey Dwyer, call 970-871-4229, email adwyer@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @Audrey_Dwyer1.