I have always had a love for nature and a love for outdoor adventure.  I remember a field trip during middle school when we had to identify all living things in a 1ft X 1ft square of forest floor. That small experience still has an impact on me to appreciate the biodiversity and inter-connectedness of the natural world.

From 1988 to 1996, I spent time in the United States Army - stationed in Texas, Germany and Washington State.  In addition to my duty assignments, I also completed two tours of duty in the Middle East - specifically Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.  

My Army experience not only gave me a diverse set of useful outdoor skills, it began my exposure to appreciate and respect other cultures and other people of the world.

Upon leaving the Army in 1996, I developed an interest in the mountains and natural beauty of Washington State.  I began hiking and backpacking with friends, and my fondness and attraction grew.  In 1998, I joined the Tacoma Branch of The Mountaineers (I am still a member today) and completed their Basic Mountaineering Course in 1999.  This led me to the top of some of Washington's crown jewels - having completed summits of all of Washington's five volcanos within two years (Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, and Mount St. Helens).

I am also a Private Pilot - rated in Single Engine Land (SEL) - which basically means that I can fly a small Cessna.  I first conducted a solo flight while taking training in High School, but finished by license and certification in Washington State.  I think that being a pilot helps with situational awareness - keenly aware of surroundings and your place in those surroundings.  I like to think that piloting skills help in my development and education as an amateur photographer.  

My photography adventure started when I was in High School – when I purchased my first 35mm camera – a Canon AE1 Program.  While I did dabble in the art during my time in school, the drive died off after I graduated.  I have always been interested in “photos” (i.e. snapshots), but never felt the need until recently to learn and improve. 

After completing the Tacoma Mountaineers - Basic Mountaineering Course that I described earlier, I went on the following year to the Intermediate Course and learned leadership skills of glacier travel, crevasse rescue, avalanche awareness, rock climbing, rope management and an overall respect for nature and the outdoors.  As my maturity increased over the many years to follow, I began to think about how I could connect people and tell the story of nature through images. 

In early 2017, I purchased my first “professional” kit:  a Canon 5D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f2.8L III, 24-70 f.28 L II, and a 70-200mm f.28L.  I also began to think about how to document and share my experiences (few though they be) – as I have no experience in content creation and publishing.  In September of 2017, I completed the Wonderland Trail – a 93-mile circuit around Mount Rainer National Park.  It was my first experience in documenting my adventure.  I knew very little (other than the few videos I had seen on YouTube) about content creation:  what is a B-Roll, voice-overs, audio quality, etc…  However, I grabbed my GoPro and Nikon B700 Super Zoom and set-out to document the trip. 

Since September of 2017, I have concentrated and taken a more dedicated effort to focus on the quality of the images I capture and the content I create.  I feel that I will be forever starting this journey, and I am my own worst critic.  I will always look to grow my ability to study and create the best compositions.

My plans are to be the best that I can be as an amateur photographer.  For me, it isn’t so much about making the picture 100% perfect, but rather telling a story and developing a narrative.  I feel that this is the linkage between my love for the backcountry and my yearning to “tell that story” and share with a broader audience.  My hope is that people will feel a connection to their own story and experiences. 

In 2019, I switched my kit to a Sony mirrorless system that I use today. I have expanded my interest to include both landscapes and wildlife. As I continue to learn and experience, I am excited to bring others along - either physically or through my work - and share the experiences that I love.