Resident photographers capture campus beauty at Eagle’s Trace

With 72 acres of stunning scenery, including a large lake, resident-grown gardens teeming with color, and plenty of cute critters, Eagle’s Trace, an Erickson Senior Living community in west Houston, is a photographer’s dream.

“When I toured the campus, there was so much beauty I wanted to capture,” says Edie Hedman, who’s been snapping pictures since 1962. “I knew that the wildflowers around the lake would be my first subject.”

Since settling into her apartment home in 2018, Edie has taken hundreds of photographs around campus. So have Philip and Janet Tan, who moved to Eagle’s Trace just three years later.

“I love taking photos of the sunrises here,” says Philip. “They’re some of my favorites.”

Thanks to their maintenance-free apartment homes, Edie, Philip, and Janet have more time to pursue their hobby and explore the community’s many clubs and activities.

Prioritizing pictures

Edie, first attracted to the lush campus, was also impressed by the apartment homes at Eagle’s Trace.

“My tour of campus included a walkthrough of apartment homes,” she recalls. “When I found the place for me, I said, ‘This one has my name on it!’ From that point on, Eagle’s Trace just felt like home.”

Award-winning passion

Like Edie, photography has been a longtime passion for Philip.

“I started in film and slide photography when I was 15 years old. Then, about 20 years ago, I got into digital photography, which is a lot easier!” he says, with a laugh.

Even though he’s won awards in the past, he was never featured in a show — until he moved to Eagle’s Trace. His work, along with Janet’s, was displayed in 2022 and 2023 in the on-campus gallery in the Audubon Clubhouse.

“I’m so thankful that resident photographers and artists are supported at Eagle’s Trace,” says Philip. “A photography club was recently started here as well, which gives us another way to connect and share tips and tricks.”

He adds, “No matter what your interests are, there are bound to be residents here who are just as passionate as you are!”