Around 2008 I started hiking regularly in a natural area near home. My motivation was to escape from the pressures of work and to simply clear my mind. After noticing many seemingly tame deer in the area, I started bringing my Canon point-and-shoot camera along and was able to get some neat photos. Over the next year or so I found myself intently observing nature, from deer to birds to insects and everything in between. I could completely lose myself in this task and frequently spent many hours hiking around and taking photos of whatever peaked my curiosity. I took thousands of photos (none that I'd brag about) but still allowed me to identify a species, learn about it's behavior, and learn where and when I might be able to see it again. This method of "shoot first and ask questions later" became an invaluable tool for me to learn about nature and thus photography has been an integral part of my journey into the joys of nature. I consider myself first and foremost a naturalist, and a photographer second. But I would be hard pressed to go birding without my camera as photos give me something to remember and keep and makes each sighting all the more memorable and enjoyable. You could say nature photography fulfills the "collector" disposition in me. For me, the subject of birds provides both the ultimate challenge as well as the ultimate reward. They are constantly on the move, come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors and even change with the seasons. I believe the endless pursuit of better photographs of each and every bird will keep me enthralled for years to come! I have no formal education in either photography or biology but I envy those that do. Looking back on my education and career path, I wish I'd chosen a different path, in some way related to nature. I'm ever so thankful that for now it is something I can devote most of my free time towards.

Features, Awards and Publications:

• In July of 2017 I was awarded publication of 5 images in the 2018 Minnesota Weatherguide Calendar sponsored by Kare11 and the Freshwater Society. freshwater.org/weatherguide-calendars/

• My photograph of a Brown Thrasher appears on page 21 of the April/May issue of Birds&Blooms Magazine.

• In March of 2017, my story and photographs titled "A Thing Called Birding" appears in the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine: www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2017/mar-apr/becom...

• My photograph of a Le Conte's Sparrow appears in the January-February 2017 issue of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine: www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/index.html

• In November of 2016 I was published again in the newest Capture Minnesota book titled "Minnesota in Seasons." This time the image was of a Monarch Butterfly, a subject I spent much time with that summer: www.captureminnesota.com/photos/1972438

• In August of 2016 my photograph of a hen Mallard was given honorable mention in a bi-weekly photo contest website called Minnesota Exposure! Each contest has a different theme and this one was "Golden Hours." The only prize goes to first place, but hey I'm still pretty excited as there are some seriously talented photographers that enter this competition: www.minnesotaexposure.com/winners-july-18-2016-summer-gol...

• My image of Sharp-tailed Grouse appeared in the May-June 2016 issue of Audubon Magazine in an article titled "Strike a Pose: 12 Pics of Birds Being Birds." www.audubon.org/magazine/may-june-2016/strike-pose-12-pic...

• My image of a pair of Purple Martins appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of Living Bird magazine: www.allaboutbirds.org/purple-martins-ecological-mismatche...

• In May of 2015 I was awarded publication in the Capture Minnesota IV online photo contest for an image of one of the very first wildflowers that I learned to identify: www.captureminnesota.com/photos/1667337/in/album/plants

Enjoy browsing the images and feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for looking!