I got my first camera in the early days of digital photography. I loved the freedom to explore and create without wasting film. I reveled in finding angles and viewpoints that others did not see. Fast forward to 2010 and my life was hitting an emotional low. In this season of life I really began to turn to photography as more than just a curiosity. It was more of an artform, which became therapeutic for me. I began to study art and photography, reading and absorbing all the information I could get my hands on. I upgraded my camera to a DSLR and began to shoot as much as I could. Pushed on and motivated by my mother, I gained confidence and new skills.
As time went on I got more serious about photography and desired for it to be more than just a hobby. It was my dream job. I was obsessed with creating new images and exploring new techniques. I found landscape photography to be my favorite, and it would eventually become a love for me. I am always in search of the Grand Landscape and have my wide-angle lens handy at all times. These days I don’t just see landscapes. My eye tends to dig deeper, looking for the more intimate scenes that make up the Grand Landscape like puzzle pieces. It makes for a great challenge and beautiful photographs. During my years searching and looking for beautiful landscapes I discovered another love, bird photography. I pride myself on images of birds in their natural environment, and do my best to not disrupt their natural routines. An accomplished birder, I have seen over 300 different species of birds in the continental United States and am constantly scouring bird sites for the next beautiful bird.
I find photography to be a mostly lonely adventure. I have wandered many national parks alone seeking my next best shot, but I never feel alone when I have my camera with me. While lonely at times, I tend to allow my photography to convey my feelings and emotions which is the ultimate goal. Some of my best photography memories include being waist deep in snow in the local reservoir or driving through a national park. Photography allows me to bring a story to life through the emotions of each photograph, for those who are willing to see it and hear it. My stories include sunrises, star-filled skies, sunsets and many birds in between; each photograph a chapter flowing out of my emotions and heart. I find that when I am out exploring the next story, I feel a peace and experience a quiet that I just can’t find in my normal day-to-day life . A moment of zen triggered by my shutter.