My name is Christi and I am a biologist, educated at Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, Michigan. If you look at the back of your left hand, this is just south of where the thumb connects to the rest of the hand. I have completed lots of biology and chemistry courses, but have never taken a photography class. I graduated with a B.S. in Biology in May 2011.

In September of 2009, I started a 365 project, mostly in hopes that it would keep my friend who is a “real” photographer on course with her own. My attempt at motivating my friend turned into a major passion in my life. I started with aphotoaday-christi.blogspot.com/ and you can still find my first pictures there. I also have a few pictures at cjraines.tumblr.com/. Now, my blog is hosted at: cjraines.wordpress.com/.

Mostly, I love to take pictures of nature. Flowers, butterflies and birds, moving water and sunsets are some of my favorites, but really I like to photograph anything. I take lots of family pictures as well, especially pictures of my nephew, Kaeson.

Last year, I received two honorable mentions in the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy Annual Photo Contest (www.sblc-mi.org/Photo%20contest.asp) for two photographs I took: ”Mating Dragonflies” and “A Duck Out of Water”. The photographs can be viewed by following the link to the contest. In May 2011, I participated in my first photography show, “Butterflies and Blooms”, at the Sweet Boutique in Bay City, Michigan, in cooperation with a friend, Sirena Eyre.

My husband, Travis, and I just moved to Charleston, WV with our cat, Leo (Leonardo Di-cat-rio). We are in a transition period of sorts and staying with family while we look for jobs and plan for the future.

With any time not taken up by the aforementioned activities, I like to travel, cook, bake, garden and beat my husband at Scrabble.