Shawna Donahue
@shawna-donahue.com
Capturing the beauty I almost missed—Boise-based photographer + educator
shawna-donahue.com
shawna-donahue.com
In the heart of this cottonwood, a perfect circle marks the home of a woodpecker, an artist in residence who carves with rhythm instead of reason.
November 8, 2025 at 1:11 AM
In the heart of this cottonwood, a perfect circle marks the home of a woodpecker, an artist in residence who carves with rhythm instead of reason.
Out shooting in Boise PhotoGrid F6 last night, this five-foot arachnid loomed over trick-or-treaters like a benevolent monster from a pumpkin-tinted dream. 🕷🎃
@boise-photogrid.bsky.social
@boise-photogrid.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Out shooting in Boise PhotoGrid F6 last night, this five-foot arachnid loomed over trick-or-treaters like a benevolent monster from a pumpkin-tinted dream. 🕷🎃
@boise-photogrid.bsky.social
@boise-photogrid.bsky.social
About a year ago today, caught in one of my favorite moments of the semester: our Freak Alley field trip. I love watching students explore light, texture, and perspective in that vibrant space.
October 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
About a year ago today, caught in one of my favorite moments of the semester: our Freak Alley field trip. I love watching students explore light, texture, and perspective in that vibrant space.
On one side, the tower rises tall and steady—on the other, light streaks swoop in a wild arc, filling the frame with motion. I’ve loved sharing these pieces, where stillness and chaos dance together in the same breath.
September 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
On one side, the tower rises tall and steady—on the other, light streaks swoop in a wild arc, filling the frame with motion. I’ve loved sharing these pieces, where stillness and chaos dance together in the same breath.
💥✨ Kamikaze ✨💥
From my Carnival Électrique series—this one’s a tumble of streaking carnival lights, all plunging downward in a rush. It’s abstract, but you can almost feel the free fall.
From my Carnival Électrique series—this one’s a tumble of streaking carnival lights, all plunging downward in a rush. It’s abstract, but you can almost feel the free fall.
September 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
💥✨ Kamikaze ✨💥
From my Carnival Électrique series—this one’s a tumble of streaking carnival lights, all plunging downward in a rush. It’s abstract, but you can almost feel the free fall.
From my Carnival Électrique series—this one’s a tumble of streaking carnival lights, all plunging downward in a rush. It’s abstract, but you can almost feel the free fall.
Big loops of carnival light take center stage in this photo—but if you look closely, you’ll spot a little surprise tucked in the corner: a sign for a Pita Wrap stand. Because nothing says “state fair” quite like neon, motion, and snacks hiding in plain sight.
August 31, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Big loops of carnival light take center stage in this photo—but if you look closely, you’ll spot a little surprise tucked in the corner: a sign for a Pita Wrap stand. Because nothing says “state fair” quite like neon, motion, and snacks hiding in plain sight.
The classic swoops and dives of a roller coaster, reimagined in light and motion. This piece found its forever home with the City of Boise as part of the Boise Visual Chronicle. Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it. 💕
August 28, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The classic swoops and dives of a roller coaster, reimagined in light and motion. This piece found its forever home with the City of Boise as part of the Boise Visual Chronicle. Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it. 💕
The heart of the Footloose ride stands steady, a glowing tower of steel—while the arms spin wildly, painting the night sky in bright, dizzying swirls.
August 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The heart of the Footloose ride stands steady, a glowing tower of steel—while the arms spin wildly, painting the night sky in bright, dizzying swirls.
This one sings. 🎶 The streaks of light twist and loop like a treble clef, sweeping across the frame as if the carnival itself were composing a song—A little symphony, written in light.
August 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This one sings. 🎶 The streaks of light twist and loop like a treble clef, sweeping across the frame as if the carnival itself were composing a song—A little symphony, written in light.
This diptych, a double-take for the eyes, is called Screamin' Swing. I love how wild and abstract it feels. Without the title, you might never guess the kind of carnival ride it is (but trust me, the riders were definitely screamin’). 😉
August 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
This diptych, a double-take for the eyes, is called Screamin' Swing. I love how wild and abstract it feels. Without the title, you might never guess the kind of carnival ride it is (but trust me, the riders were definitely screamin’). 😉
This one’s all about the zigzags—the ride zigzags, my camera zigzags, and the composition zigzags right back at you.
August 22, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This one’s all about the zigzags—the ride zigzags, my camera zigzags, and the composition zigzags right back at you.
✨ Vortex Vertigo, part of my Carnival Électrique series. This one twirled its way into the City of Boise’s Visual Chronicle Collection—and at one point, it even landed in the Boise airport. Imagine my surprise stepping off a flight and finding my own artwork waiting to welcome me home!
August 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
✨ Vortex Vertigo, part of my Carnival Électrique series. This one twirled its way into the City of Boise’s Visual Chronicle Collection—and at one point, it even landed in the Boise airport. Imagine my surprise stepping off a flight and finding my own artwork waiting to welcome me home!
✨ Ferris wheels are meant to be grand, impossible to miss—yet in this triptych from Carnival Électrique, the wheel hides itself, a small gem tucked inside each frame. Light unravels, curves scatter, and the familiar dissolves into rhythm and glow.
August 20, 2025 at 1:06 PM
✨ Ferris wheels are meant to be grand, impossible to miss—yet in this triptych from Carnival Électrique, the wheel hides itself, a small gem tucked inside each frame. Light unravels, curves scatter, and the familiar dissolves into rhythm and glow.
From the Carnival Électrique series—light unspooled into motion, the carnival ride dissolves into pure rhythm and color—a dream traced in streaks of electricity.
August 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
From the Carnival Électrique series—light unspooled into motion, the carnival ride dissolves into pure rhythm and color—a dream traced in streaks of electricity.
🎡 The Idaho State Fair has always been special—I grew up helping my mom at her booth & sharing Pronto Pups + Elephant Ears with my dad. Fifteen years ago, I returned with my first digital camera, experimenting wildly.
August 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
🎡 The Idaho State Fair has always been special—I grew up helping my mom at her booth & sharing Pronto Pups + Elephant Ears with my dad. Fifteen years ago, I returned with my first digital camera, experimenting wildly.
I photographed these two affectionate, camera-curious pigs during a weekend at the family ranch in Mackay for Chase the Light, a fundraiser for Photographic Center Northwest. Since everyone had different names for them, I called them Stieglitz and O’Keeffe. They seemed to approve.
August 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I photographed these two affectionate, camera-curious pigs during a weekend at the family ranch in Mackay for Chase the Light, a fundraiser for Photographic Center Northwest. Since everyone had different names for them, I called them Stieglitz and O’Keeffe. They seemed to approve.
Sometimes the light tells the story. On the grounds of the Cataldo Mission, I found no grand view—just humble leaves and shadows quietly echoing one another. Leaf upon leaf, shape upon shape, the sunlight cast its own hushed rhythm.
July 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Sometimes the light tells the story. On the grounds of the Cataldo Mission, I found no grand view—just humble leaves and shadows quietly echoing one another. Leaf upon leaf, shape upon shape, the sunlight cast its own hushed rhythm.
At the Cataldo Mission, I was drawn to this statue of the Virgin Mary—not by her gaze, but by her outstretched hand. Sometimes what we reach for says more than what we see.
July 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
At the Cataldo Mission, I was drawn to this statue of the Virgin Mary—not by her gaze, but by her outstretched hand. Sometimes what we reach for says more than what we see.
In the Cataldo Mission, even the simplest objects—like candleholders fashioned from humble tin cans—become part of something ingenious and heartfelt.
July 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
In the Cataldo Mission, even the simplest objects—like candleholders fashioned from humble tin cans—become part of something ingenious and heartfelt.
Tucked inside the Cataldo Mission, grace reveals itself in the most unexpected ways. What draws me in most is the ingenuity in its adornment: tin cans turned into chandeliers, wallpaper made from hand-painted newspaper, humble materials transformed into unpretentious beauty.
July 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Tucked inside the Cataldo Mission, grace reveals itself in the most unexpected ways. What draws me in most is the ingenuity in its adornment: tin cans turned into chandeliers, wallpaper made from hand-painted newspaper, humble materials transformed into unpretentious beauty.
The bell at the Cataldo Mission stands weathered but dignified, its golden sheen peeking through rust like a memory refusing to fade. Moss-covered timbers cradle it, softened by time. Above, the sky joins in with a flourish of rippling clouds—texture echoing texture, nature and history in harmony.
July 9, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The bell at the Cataldo Mission stands weathered but dignified, its golden sheen peeking through rust like a memory refusing to fade. Moss-covered timbers cradle it, softened by time. Above, the sky joins in with a flourish of rippling clouds—texture echoing texture, nature and history in harmony.
On the 135th anniversary of Idaho statehood, it feels fitting to share a detail from the Cataldo Mission—the oldest building in the state. A close look at its ceiling reveals hand-carved floral filigree shaped with the most basic tools. The soft blue wash? Made from crushed huckleberries.
July 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
On the 135th anniversary of Idaho statehood, it feels fitting to share a detail from the Cataldo Mission—the oldest building in the state. A close look at its ceiling reveals hand-carved floral filigree shaped with the most basic tools. The soft blue wash? Made from crushed huckleberries.
Happy World Camera Day to all who see the world a little differently through the lens—keep capturing the beauty, the chaos, and everything in between!
June 29, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Happy World Camera Day to all who see the world a little differently through the lens—keep capturing the beauty, the chaos, and everything in between!
The Cataldo Mission stands as the oldest building in Idaho, built in the 1850s by Jesuit missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. No nails were used—just hand-hewn wood, mud, and incredible craftsmanship.
June 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The Cataldo Mission stands as the oldest building in Idaho, built in the 1850s by Jesuit missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. No nails were used—just hand-hewn wood, mud, and incredible craftsmanship.
Spotted in Lapwai, Idaho: the most honest gas station sign in America!
June 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Spotted in Lapwai, Idaho: the most honest gas station sign in America!