We were running a story about a predicted wet winter and I had sent photographer Kathryn Stevens to the upper valley to photograph snow in the mountains the afternoon before the story would run.

As it turned out, we had reports of snow fall in the morning of publication and because Kathryn was working late and couldn’t shoot it herself, I headed out to find a photograph with snow in it. Someone at the office mentioned snow at their house in the Forest Ridge development so I diverted from my original plan to go to Blewett Pass, opting for a quicker trip and one that might produce a more personal image at the houses toward Mission Ridge.

I was fortunate to spot Rita Rupert looking for her dog and photographed her while she called for him. I knew the blank wall of the house would create a good background for the snow and again was fortunate Rita looked up at the falling snow.I have a love-hate relationship with deadlines. I love it when I can make a deadline with a good, story-telling image - but I hate the pressure of trying to find that picture within a short amount of time.