My Path to Photography
I'm a freelance photographer, currently located in Western Pennsylvania. I have over 10 years of photography experience with a wide range of subjects. I've come to find out that there are very few places that I would rather be, than out in the mountains or in a sports arena with my camera.
I got my first tastes of photography at about 7 years old. My parents gave me a panoramic point and shoot film camera to play around with on vacations, which may have been something they later regretted doing. I heard on more than one occasion, "how expensive" it was to keep getting those rolls of film developed. But those words have little meaning to a young kid, so I continued to have my fun and shoot rather mindlessly with it, as most kids would. Eventually, other childhood interests of bike tricks and basketball took over, and I forgot all about the photo world until after college.
I went through my high school and college years without a whole lot of direction or sense of where I really expected to wind up. I spent many hours researching careers that would bring me good money, but could never artificially ignite any ounce of passion within myself for any of them. But I kept on my hopeless path, assuming that one day something would finally click or present itself to me.
It wasn't long after graduating college that I started playing with an old point and shoot again, which quickly lead to me being given my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel XS. A Christmas present that really took me by surprise. After that is when the love began to really blossom. Though, at the risk of killing the romantic aura here, I mean that in a more traditional, seasonal blossoming manner. As there were stretches of intense passion, followed by long lulls of disinterest. It would take me years of this hot and cold relationship to really find my place with photography.
I went on to wade my way through many horrific photography clichés. Reflection selfies of myself with my DSLR, overusing meaningless black and white editing, "artistic" filters, selective coloring, the dreaded overly processed HDR phase. You name, I probably did it. I know it's a process that I have far from perfected, both personally and photographically. But I can at least take a sense of pride in the fact that my process and progress over the last 9 years has truly come from within me; finding my own motivation to learn, teaching myself the skills that I have, progressing at my own pace, finding my way. It will continue to be a process that I weave my way through for years to come, but I've now reached a place within myself, and my photography career, that I love where I'm at and what I'm doing.
Photographing mountain goats in a mountain valley.
My Life Outside of Photography
I've cultivated quite a fondness for simplicity in my life. Objects were providing me with very little in terms of long-term happiness, so I realized my goals and focus needed to change. I adjusted my lifestyle to accommodate much less "stuff", stress, and emphasis on money, while increasing emphasis on things that truly brought me joy, happiness, and a sense of peace.
I've been very fortunate to be in a situation where I can adopt this type of lifestyle. It does require some very deliberate decision making to maintain, but I'm now in a place where my time spent working can be more easily cultivated to give me more free time to enjoy myself. Much of my enjoyment comes from being outside, with and without the camera. I enjoy spending time out on trails, whether it's hiking or on one of my bicycles. I'm not one to pass up an opportunity to travel, as my next trip is always near the forefront of my mind. And I'll shamelessly admit that I get quite a rush out of sleeping in and doing absolutely nothing somedays. I'll also spend some time inside working with clay sculpting, writing, listening to records, playing video games, or watching movies.
Hiking near 14,000' on the ridge of Mt. Democrat, Colorado.