Photography: 2014

For our final assignment I photographed a group of girls I camped next to at Sasquatch! I tried to get a glimpse into their story and their time camping at Sasquatch! I would like to thank these five girls for allowing me to stick a camera in their face while they were trying to enjoy their time at Sasquatch! Hope you enjoy!

Sitting on top of a hill facing the main stage (from left to right) Maddi Null, 21, Colette Behen, 20, Elle Reid, 21 and Jordan Paulsen, 19, chat and enjoy the show at The Gorge Amphitheater for the annual Sasquatch! music festival over Memorial weekend. The girls all go to Humboldt State University in Arcadia, CA. They all met on Humboldt's women's soccer team and have become close friends and roommates. Maddi, who is originally from Seattle, introduced the other girls to the festival two years ago. "I feel like most people here know about Sasquatch! because of a Washington connection, “Elle says. Elle, Colette and Sarah Sidillo's (not pictured) hometown is in Southern California and Jordan is from Loveland, Colorado. "If Maddi never told us about it, we would never have this awesome opportunity." Elle says. The girls say they have made it a kind of like a tradition to drive up from Arcadia together to The Gorge for the festival weekend. It's Elle, Maddi, Colette and Sarah's second year up for Sasquatch! and Jordan is experiencing it all for the first time.

Jordan, front, and Colette sit in the back of their van, trying to stay out of the heat before they take the walk up to the Gorge for the day. "I 'm most excited for the relaxation and freedom," Colette says, “The Gorge is just a place to relax and really just have a good time." Pre-gaming with some beer and pretzels, the girls make sure to spend time together before potentially getting separated while seeing the various musical acts performing that day. “We spend so much time throughout our year planning and getting hyped for this so now that it’s here, we’re ready to party hard and enjoy it," Jordan said.

During the music festival, schedules where handed out as a tool for the people to plan out their day. Jordan circles the shows she's most interested and excited to see before she walks up to the Gorge. "There are so many good bands playing so I don't to miss an opportunity to see them even if it means leaving one show early to run and catch another show I'm just as excited to see," Jordan says. This year was Jordan's first year at Sasquatch! and she plans on making the most of it. "I’m so happy I was invited into this tradition with the other girls," Jordan says.

Sarah Sidillo, 20 and Elle, front, sit in the car prepping for last day at Sasquatch! "Putting on make-up in this small mirror is much easier by the third day," Sarah said. The girls take turns in the front seats of the van, applying their make-up and charging their phones before going to the Gorge for the day. They came prepared to this year with a portable generator to charge their phones. "Last year, our biggest problem was getting everyone's phone charged for the day," Elle said "We've learned and adapted this year."

Hanging out at the camp site, Elle enjoys a beer and laughs as her friends dance around. "Camping with your friends is something everyone should experience in their lives," Elle says, "The memories you will create at Sasquatch! are some that you can look back at and smile for years, its really an amazing experience." This year is Elle's second year and she plans on continuing with the tradition for years to come.

Sarah, left, Colette, and Maddi talk about their day as they relax and unwind at their campsite. "I was most excited to see M.I.A. and she was amazing," Colette says, "She was better than my expectation!" Maddi loves the music but says Sasquatch! means much more to her. "They all put on such crazy shows that really get stuck in my mind at the end of it all but really my favorite part is simply the magic of Sasquatch! as a whole and the little community that sprouts in return," Maddi says. Sarah agrees that the camping community that emerges when meeting new people and playing games at the campsite is best part of it all.

On the morning of the last day, Jordan watches the other girls as they start to pack their things up. After the last show finishes up at Sasquatch!, the girls are coming back to camp site only to get in their van and leave at 2 A.M. Jordan and Sarah(not pictured) have to be at the airport for their 7 A.M. and 8 A.M. flights back to their hometowns. "It’s been the best weekend of my life and I hate to see it come to an end so quickly," Jordan said.