Sandi began her photography practice during her ten year career as a video producer for General Motors, using vacation time creatively to take as many beloved photo trips as possible. During the automotive crisis of 2009, Sandi was downsized. GM told her to hit the road, so she did. Sandi seized the opportunity to realize one of her long-dreamed-of projects: documenting the entire 2400+ miles of Route 66. She spent two months living in a small trailer and driving across America, photographing the historic highway using now-obsolete black and white infrared film, a dashboard-mounted time-lapse camera, and digital stills. Her journey and her “pictureRoute66” online travel blog received much attention, accolades, and press. The experience cemented in her a commitment to travel, and to create her own self-employed path.
One of Sandi’s greatest passions and long-term photography projects is the ecologically-troubled Salton Sea in southern California. She has been visiting and photographing the Salton Sea since 2004, sharing the work through several solo exhibitions over the years.
Sandi currently teaches Digital Photography for Forensic Science at the University of Windsor, conducts instructional photography workshops in the California desert, and is a freelance tour director.
Although most of her colour work is now created digitally, she still has a darkroom and processes and prints black and white silver gelatin prints by hand. Email sandi@sandiwheaton.com to inquire about purchase of her work.