My interest in photography started about the same time as my appreciation for the natural world. Camping trips and family vacations to our State and National Parks are some of my fondest childhood memories. My first camera was the classic Kodak Box Brownie followed by the Instamatic. My world in those days was enormous with vast woods, fields, and streams to explore. With the support of parents and grandparents, I learned the names of the plants and creatures around me. Though I didn’t yet understand the relationship between the camera and my natural world, one was about to come undone. During Junior High and High School, economic depression in my region spurred an onslaught of oil and gas exploration, drilling and logging. The short term economic gain to the region produced destruction and devastation that remains to this day, some 30 years later. This more than anything instilled in me a reason and desire to protect not only the world that I had grown to love but the gift of God’s creation for my children and generations to come. Shortly after I was forced to endure this situation, I had several fortunate events occur. The first was to hear Mary Street Alinder lecture on a book she coauthored, “Ansel Adams: An Autobiography”. The presentation was accompanied by two complete portfolio collections of Adams’ himself. This was the life changing event that brought photography as an art together with a love of nature and a desire for conservation. Beyond the inspiration that I continue to derive from the beauty of God’s glorious creations, I also continue to gain inspiration from all the great landscape and conservation photographers including Ansel Adams, Philip Hyde, Elliot Porter, and Robert Glenn Ketchum to name a few.
I unfortunately have a full time day job that involves neither of these occupations. I also have a loving family that occupies tremendous time but is very supportive of my true calling. Photography and Conservation continue to drive me spiritually and artistically. Have you ever thought about “what do I want to do when I grow up?” Maybe my years of practice will someday mature into an Artist and a Conservationist so that when I pass on, I have a legacy and a peace to know that I have done my part to protect the most important gift we all have ever received… the precious and beautiful creation of God’s Earth and all that dwell here.
I hope that you are inspired by some of this beauty that I have tried to capture and that it compels in you a desire to pass it on as we have received it.
