The Lay of the Land

- Blurb -

A spiritually uplifting and beautiful designed visual memoir by the hugely popular photographer on Instagram, Joe Greer, combining thoughtful essays and more than 100 gorgeous landscape photos-half fan favorites, and half never-before-seen. "Each photograph really does come down to a split second when you decide to freeze that moment in time. . . . You ask yourself what the story is that you want to tell, and let the rest unfold: Click. "-from the introductionJoe Greer never imagined he would become a photographer. Raised in Florida by an aunt and uncle after his mother' s death when he was four, Joe had a seemingly normal childhood, spending summers at church camp and dreaming of going to college. But nearly fifteen years later, the ground shifted beneath his feet when he discovered a family secret that would impact the rest of his life. Trying to make sense of that revelation and what it meant for his future, Greer set his sights on becoming a pastor at Spokane' s Moody Bible Institute. There, he discovered Instagram-and a passion for photography. His pictures of the lush, wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest landscape attracted a large following that has grown to more than three quarters of a millions fans and continues to expand. The Lay of the Land is Joe' s story in words and pictures. In this stunning compendium, he reflects on the trauma of his early life and what photography has taught him: how to find his light; how to slow down; how to appreciate the world around him, a reverence for the nature world that that both nurtures and amplifies his creativity and faith; how to love-his photography led him to his wife, Madison-and how to heal. For Joe, photography has been a way to find purpose, better understand his faith, and express himself. Though he began with landscapes, meeting his wife sparked a new love of portraiture, and he turned to making photos of street scenes that explored his complicated feelings about family. A love letter to the natural world, to faith, and to finding your calling in the most unexpected places, The Lay of the Land is a window into the beautiful mind and heart of one of the internet' s favorite photographers. Moving and inspiring, it is a creative and spiritual journey that offers lessons on life and living. As Greer reminds us all, whatever it is you want, it' s up to you to make the moment (and the photograph).