© . Rav . Photo

My photography seems to evolve with each new occasion. As a base, I had some solid artistic groundwork laid in high school and the early parts of college. I would have to thank a creative and insistent art teacher in a less than creative surrounding of the high school I attended for formally evoking my artistic spirit. In retrospect, all he really asked was that we put something down on paper, print or canvas. Even just writing that reminds me of the initial struggle that caused. It’s also the common tipping point with me and is all that’s needed to let the floodgates open. Following that, I managed to benefit from a handful of art history courses early in college before other freedoms redirected those creative spirits into other life experiences.

More recently, I have been lucky enough to have a family that is very supportive of all the various hobbies I have trampled through. Those included a gas R/C boat that never made it into the water, and several old Volkswagen Fastbacks the got partially restored and from which I got plenty of enjoyment. Those evolved into a BMW coupe which has really allowed me to enjoy time at the race track with confidence a few times a year. I dabbled in 35mm film many years ago and have always been interested in the art of photography. I was quick to digital cameras with a Toshiba 1.3 M-pixel camera in 1999 (that started as a way to eBay all kinds of things, which I should add to the ongoing hobby list) and a nicer Sony a couple years later.

Over Thanksgiving of 2005, my family visited and my father brought his Canon DSLR. With one borrowed exposure, I was subliminally hooked. For my birthday in October of 2006 I jumped into the world of DSLR photography with a Nikon D50. Nikon Acquire Syndrome (NAS) followed pretty closely and additional lenses, a tri-pod and all sorts of gear and books started gathering around me. I am currently shooting with a Nikon D90.

Nature and wildlife photography seem to gain most of my attention, while I dabble for experience’s sake in other genres. Growing up in Oregon and Washington gave me a deep appreciation for the outdoors and how it can differ so greatly from mile to mile. Looking for that diversity and capturing the feelings of each location are part of what drives me with each outing. I have been fortunate to have taken photo-specific trips both in 2008 and 2009 to the Southern Utah and Northern Arizona area. I have been able to fully experience and capture the humbling Southwest United States. Like the experts extol, I am often chasing golden hour light or dragging myself out of bed in the dark to get to a sunrise location.

I seem to keep most of my free time (outside the family) busy with reading, research or shooting, immersed possibly a little too much into the world that revolves around photography and how good it is. Galen Rowell, Ansel Adams, Geology of the Southwest, and Prairies of the Midwest are recent entries on my reading list, in addition to a myriad of on-line resources and research.

Back to my first lesson listed here, really it’s all about getting out and doing. Whatever may follow is gravy! Homemade delicious, spicy, meaty, thick, cooked all day red sauce gravy over the pasta of life!