Bringing beauty home
While visiting Coborn Healing Center or Coborn Cancer Center, you will find serene outdoor landscape photography adorning many of the walls. Many are surprised to discover most of these scenic photos were taken and donated by Don Jurgens, MD.
Dr. Jurgens was always interested in photography and decided in 2010 to jump in with both feet. He bought a decent camera and signed up for a professional instruction course at Yosemite National Park through the Ansel Adams Gallery. It was a week of intense hands-on instruction and supervision to ensure he developed good habits. He has returned for three more courses to train with the same professional, Michael Frye. Most of his techniques were learned in Yosemite, but he also attended a workshop on Lake Superior and read several books. According to Dr. Jurgens, “Having a hobby of any sort helps with resilience, but the photography is a nice bonus to capture moments from my travels near and far.”
His favorites are displayed in his office at Coborn Cancer Center; one is a black and white of Machu Picchu, “Early morning our first day and the clouds were just receding from the mountains all around and from Machu Picchu itself. There was a solitary tree in the grounds of the ruins that I noticed and captured as it was coming out of the clouds.”
The other is from a trip to New Zealand on the North Island, a place called Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, “It was a sulfur hot spring with bright orange minerals deposited in the water and had steam coming off that was very cool. The picture does not capture the horrible smell and uncomfortable heat from where I was standing taking the picture, but I am still taken back there when I see it .”
Dr. Jurgens hopes his photos are relaxing to view, “Most of us can benefit from aids to help us relax so I hope my photos assist patients in that regard.”
Photos from Dr. Jurgens
Black and white photo from Machu Picchu. Displayed in Dr. Jurgens' office at Coborn Cancer Center.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland on the North Island of New Zealand. Displayed at Coborn Cancer Center. 'The picture does not capture the horrible smell and uncomfortable heat from where I was standing taking the picture, but I am still taken back there when I see it,' says Dr. Jurgens.
Half Dome at Yosemite National Park. As featured on the Coborn Cancer Center Christmas card a few years ago.
Gates of the Valley Moonrise at Yosemite National Park. From Dr. Jurgens' personal collection. Part of Dr. Jurgens' hand-on instruction included classes at Yosemite National Park through the Ansel Adams Gallery.
Zion Canyon and North Fork Virgin River at Zion National Park. From Dr. Jurgens' personal collection.