Debbi Iaffaldano’s love of nature began early on as a Midwestern girl exploring Wisconsin’s natural playground. Mesmerized by the towering sandstone cliffs and winding rivers of the Dells Baraboo region, she was lucky to befriend an elder of the local Native American tribe who was the caretaker of the local motel where the family stayed each summer. She would sit on the outdoor covered swing near the woods listening to his ancestral stories of days past and asking many questions.
He told legends of the spirit guides and the animals, showing us how to care for Mother Earth. Debbi was entranced by the colors and tribal percussion of the Ho-Chunk nation as they performed the Buffalo and Eagle ceremonial dances at Stand Rock. She saw the spirit of the land and river through the eyes of its ancestors in her friend.
Her photography explores both the majestic and micro essences of nature through bold color and striking silhouettes that capture the beauty and contrasts of the mountains, forests and waters.
Her tribal friend once told her she was like the Rose blossom, noting her affinity for simple beauty in nature. Many years later, Debbi took her Native Spirit name as Aiyanah Rose, meaning “eternal blossom”, and now writes under the pseudonym of the same name on Medium.com. Her Secret Garden photo of a hidden courtyard near a Galena church (from a photo series of the same name) was selected and featured in a Laguna Beach gallery in California. No matter how far she roams, she still travels back to her Native land to reconnect with her roots.
Connect on Instagram: @debiaffaldano https://www.instagram.com/debiaffaldano