Description

Hidden

Artist Statement by Dustin Ferguson

In the frozen stillness of a snowy day near Elmworth, Alberta, I met the gaze of a mule deer buck—caught in the rut, half-veiled behind a windrow of trees. He looked at me not with fear, but with curiosity. Suspended in time, we studied each other, each trying to understand the other’s intent.

The image is centered like a crosshair, its edges blurred, echoing the uncertainty of the moment. The buck feels protected, hidden by the forest’s edge. But that safety is an illusion. If I had come with a rifle instead of a camera, he would have been mine.

“Hidden” is a meditation on vulnerability, perception, and the thin line between life and loss. It asks us to consider how often we mistake concealment for protection—and how easily beauty can be taken if not preserved.