Photographing On A Snowy Day at the Great Northern Chalet in Whitefish, Montana

Big Sky Journal Home - April 2024

Architecture - Centre Sky Architecture

Timber Supplier - Montana Reclaimed Lumber

Photographing the Great Northern Chalet in Whitefish, Montana, was a rare opportunity to capture a home that feels as though it grew directly from the landscape. Perched high on a hill, nestled between massive boulders and old-growth pines, the chalet is a stunning example of Parkitecture—a style that combines rustic materials with monumental scale. On the day of the shoot, a fresh blanket of snow added an extra layer of drama and helped me tell the story of this home’s timeless connection to its surroundings.

As a photographer, my goal was to showcase how the architecture blends with the natural environment. Each stone tells a story of craftsmanship, and I used the soft, diffused light of the snowy day to emphasize the textures and details. The snow muted the surrounding landscape, drawing even more attention to the rugged beauty of the stone and the towering, hand-scribed timber columns.

The snowy weather also helped me convey a sense of warmth and coziness inside the home. The design’s rustic charm came to life as the diffused light from the overcast sky filtered through the expansive windows. This natural light softened the interiors and created a perfect contrast to the bold, masculine architecture. I focused on framing the views through the windows to highlight how the home feels cradled by its environment, with glimpses of snow-covered boulders and towering pines just outside.

One of my favorite elements to photograph was the way the home seemed to nestle into its surroundings. This seamless integration of massive boulders into the architecture was the vision of Jamie Daugaard, whose talent and attention to detail are truly remarkable. I took care to capture angles that emphasized this thoughtful design, showing how the house isn’t just sitting on the hill—it’s part of it.

Photographing the Great Northern Chalet was a reminder of the power of architecture to connect us to the land. With every shot, I aimed to capture the strength, warmth, and timeless beauty of this home. It was an honor to see this work featured in Big Sky Journal HOME 2024, where the images could tell the story of this extraordinary home to an even wider audience. Projects like these make me grateful for the chance to bring such unique designs to life through my photography.