I started photography when I was in my late 20's, on a Minolta film DSLR. Just as the digital revolution was occurring, I was still contemplating building a darkroom in the basement to teach myself the craft. I didn't want to give up film, proudly taking a stand against what I thought wasn't real because it was too easily faked. Nonetheless, I eventually caved like nearly all of us have, getting a Canon Rebel XT around the time I joined Flickr. It took me a few years to realize I should take the largest image possible. I shoot RAW now (on a 6D), so my workflow has considerably slowed, but I still enjoy learning the craft. Life is all about the learning and growing, in every aspect.

Travel is one of the best ways to learn about the world, teaching you perspective, humility and wisdom. I'm happiest when exploring. My favorite time to shoot is when I'm shooting something new, somewhere else. But because we can't travel all the time, I try and find something new in everyday objects, looking through a macro lens, finding the details we often overlook in our everyday, disconnected, distracted lives.

Take the time to look around, and smell the roses as they say. Time is all we have, and we don't even know how much. We're only on this rock for a nanosecond in the history of the universe. Make it count.

Be good, do good.