I have been a Nikon fan since I was a child - sneaking into my parents' closet and getting into the camera case/box. It was such an intriguing device. I'd check for film. And if there wasn't any in the camera, I'd wind and click. I loved listening to the ratcheting sounds and the sound of the shutter. When I graduated from college, my parents asked me what kind of camera I wanted (within reason) as a graduation gift. After a bunch of research, I told them I wanted the Nikon D60. That got me started on a photography hobbyist adventure with manual settings, etc. Now, I own the Nikon Z9 and a few amazing lenses. I do some pro work, but mostly, it's an escape from stress and a way to explore my creative side, curiosity, and the outdoors.

In my photo stream, you’ll find some focus and photo stacks, panoramic stitches, and two photos that use layers and masking (one of which uses a cheesy sky replacement - sort of mocking the sensationalism found so often in social media photography). The rest are regular photos with standard adjustments to brightness, contrast, etc - similar to the color effects or profiles you might enable in camera or in post. No magic, masking or major changes. I try hard to keep the spirit of original photography and basic processing alive in my work (while avoiding darkrooms, chemicals, and various papers, etc.

My goal typically when I’m out with my camera is to find something, beautiful, exciting or impressive, and then help the viewer experience the accuracy of that same experience I was having that motivated me to put my eye up to the EVF. And sometimes (especially in many shots in the dark), the camera can see even better than my naked eyes. I love low-light photography. :)

Some of the photos have received awards on Flickr and in other communities, several have made it on the local news in Salt Lake City, and one got made into a 1,000-piece puzzle. And currently, one is in the final round of judging in the annual Nikon Film & Photo Competition. Crossing fingers and wishing on a star.

My favorite shot is the one taken from an airplane window of the setting sun beaming through layers of clouds at dusk while the city of Portland Oregon has already transitioned to night - the city lights becoming like little stars in the night below the clouds. No special effects or masking or layers were used in producing the picture. It has been favorited very few times in relation to other photos I've taken that I consider less powerful and magical in comparison. It reminds me that while we strive to take admirable photos, beauty is still so much in the eye of the beholder.