About Melani

Photographer and Colorado Springs resident Melani M. Tutt spent her childhood with the spires and rock formations of the “Garden” acting as her playground. When the Garden of the Gods Club and Resort asked to curate a collection of Tutt’s images for a book, the thought of exploring the park through the lens of a camera was an exhilarating one. With her husband acting as a trusted Sherpa, Tutt embarked on a journey of rediscovery.

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While capturing images for this book, Tutt came to love chasing the sunlight and watching the fog roll in. Observing the ever-changing canvas unfold before her, she was sparked by a fresh enthusiasm for color photography. In the words of the artist, each photograph enclosed in this book is “an intimate view of the Garden of the Gods, a relationship on a smaller scale,” and an opportunity for visitors to experience seasonal views of the park.

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In conversations about how working on this book might have changed her life, Tutt says:

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“I have always believed that photography has the power to heighten awareness. In my work with non-profits, I strive to make images that are both “purposeful” and beautiful. I thought this project sounded interesting and different than my normal, people-oriented endeavors, but what I didn’t expect was that it would also be purposeful. While shooting, I came to realize that collecting and sharing the aesthetics of nature has a value all its own. Through a still image, both the photographer and the beholder are - in the words of Minor White - “given to see from a sacred place. From that place the sacredness of everything may be seen.” I hope that my images help not only me as the photographer, but the viewer as well to discover the sacred beauty of a place like Garden of the Gods. I think that what surrounds brings respite, perspective, and rejuvenation if we open ourselves to it.”