267

My love of photography started at the age of 19 while on a summer trip in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I was hooked from that point on. While in Jackson, I developed a deep appreciation for the beauty of God's creation. I desired to share this beauty with others. Photography presented me with an opportunity to express what I was feeling and witnessing. Feelings and emotions can't be photographed in the literal sense. The warmth of the sun, as it breaks the eastern horizon at sunrise, simply can't be felt in the form of a print, but through my work I hope to evoke a sense of belonging and purpose, but above that a connection with the natural world. I'm often asked by folks what kind of camera I use or what type of tripod I prefer. I asked the same questions when I first started photographing back in 1999. But I soon realized that the camera doesn't make the image, but rather the photographer does! In my film days I viewed my camera as a light tight box and nothing more. The lens is an extension of the camera and both were controlled by me. If the images didn't turn out, I had no one to blame but myself. So what did I do? I learned how to use my camera. The camera manual was the first place I looked. I recommend this to anyone who is new to photography.