Residence: Grand Junction Colorado
and native to Western Colorado.
Education: B.S.
and M.S. in Agronomy/Soil Science, Colorado State University,
Photographic background:
I've been practicing nature photography for 18 years. I would say self
taught but I've had lot's of direction and inspiration from many other
great photographers, and I'm very grateful.
My Job...
Nope,
photography is not my full
time occupation (you can decide if this is a good thing!). The
job
that pays the bills is with the federal government - USDA-Natural
Resources
Conservation Service. I make maps of soils and provide data and
interpretations
regarding their use.
I've always had a great passion
for the outdoors and my studies in the natural sciences only bolstered
my feelings of awe and appreciatioin for the natural world around us.
My interest in photography actually
came out in my early years when I bought an old black and white 35 mm camera
at a yard sale and began taking photos of whatever. However in my
teen years the idea of making a living doing this kind of thing never
really
occurred to me. So I went the route of natural sciences and a job
that would keep me outdoors at least part of the time. And I have
no regrets.
In the last few years as a serious
amateur I've realized my aptitude for nature photography and am
constantly
building on my skills and hope to be for the rest of my life, learning
new things about both the natural world and photographing it.
I'm "into" nature photography
for many of the same reasons that so many others are; the inspiration,
the beauty, the joy of being in and a part of a specific
location and being able to convey at least a small segment of that to
someone
else.
(I know - yadda, yadda, yadda ;-) ) No, Really!
But...
As you may
have realized my approach
to the natural world is not just physical but spiritual. I'm
a fundamentalist Christian (I don't claim a denomination) which is
generally an opposite
from most nature writers and photographers. I was raised in a
christian
church but my experiences in my adult life and my education in science
is actually what drove home the reality and the truth of my
faith.
This world has an extravagant designer. To think that all this
came
from mere chance and random happenings is not statistically or
mathematically
valid. Here is a "links page" regarding the issue. The
naturalistic and humanistic brain washing that
I recieved in public school and college did not stick. I offer a
challenge
to anyone reading and looking to honestly consider all the evidence in
His creation.
People, basically believe what
they want to, building their own belief systems around "evidence" -
circumstantial
and factual.
"For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that
are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse," Romans 1:20