A fascination with photography has been with me since an early age, however, the pursuit of serious photo taking grew with the development of digital cameras and the time to pursue the interest that was provided as I neared retirement.
I used to go to the mountains with the primary goal of getting to the top and bagging another peak. Now I meander trails that I had passed by with an eye towards the beauty and patterns found in nature. The lace-work of a dragonfly wing, the detail of a dew-covered spider web, and the grandeur of snow-covered or fog enveloped mountaintops keep me lingering a few moments longer as I envision the potential of a framed photograph to share.
Often an image “happens” as I spy an early morning bird, high up in a tree with an insect in its mouth, or watch a great blue heron trying to land on a branch that is much to weak to hold it. A mother bear with her cub, or a snake that stops its forward slither and “smiles” for the camera, are examples of just being there and letting the moment present itself for capture by the camera. There are also the moments to keep as my wife and I enjoy our growing family and the many adventures we share together.
The beauty and intricacy in our world will keep me searching for that next unforgettable moment to preserve, while also reminding me that some moments can never truly be captured by the camera and are just there and meant to be enjoyed.