When I was really little my mom had this cheap point-and-shoot camera that she brought everywhere, which gave me the photography bug early on. I didn't progress from an adicted snapshooter to a serious photographer until after I took a black and white photography class in high school and got my first SLR camera when I was 16. Since then, I have dedicated a lot of time to improving my photography. I used to photograph sports quite a bit, but I recently decided to focus soley on nature and wildlife photography.

I'm not sure exactly what my first rinky-dink point-and-shoots were but the first serious camera I ever owned was a Nikon N65 35mm film camera. When I switched to digital I bought a Nikon D70 and then a D200. I now use a Canon 1D Mark II N body.

I now use Canon digital SLRs and lenses for all of my shooting. I used to shoot Nikon, but I recently switched to Canon because the Canon system seemed to fit my style of shooting better. Note: I do not wish to start a Canon vs Nikon war as both are fine systems. If you would like more detailed information about my decision to switch, please email me. For a detailed list of my equipment, please visit the equipment page.

I absolutely love wildlife, in particular big mammals. There is something so cool about seeing some big untamed magnificent creature in the wild. It really has a way of humbling you and reminding you that you are only a very small part of this vast and breathtaking planet.

Yes, I used to shoot sports quite a bit, and I won a few different photo contests with some of my sports images. However, sometimes I became bored shooting athletic events, and I disliked having to plan my day around game and meet schedules. My decision to focus soley on nature and wildlife photography has allowed me to photograph subjects that I'm more passionate about and at times that are more convient for me.

Many of my favorite photographers aren't big name pros but are incredibly talented individuals. These photographers include Chris Kayler, Kim Steininger, Jasper Doest, Marc Adamus, and David Clapp, just to name a few. Of the full time pros out there, I especially enjoy the work of David Doubilet, Art Wolfe, Thomas Mangelson, Galen Rowell, Tom Murphy, Nick Brandt, and Michael Poliza.

I don't think I could ever decide and even if I could it would probably change all the time. Whenever I get a new shot that I love, I'm obsessed with it for a little while, but then I always want something better, something new, something different. My portfolio of Artist Favorites is constantly changing.

When I was fourteen my mom sent me to Australia and New Zealand as part of a student ambassador group. It wasn't a photography trip (although I took 800+ photos with an APS point-and-shoot and it took my mom two grocery bags to pick up all of the prints), but New Zealand is by far the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I would love to go back there one day as part of a serious photography trip.

My inspiration comes from the natural world. If you just look carefully you can find the most amazing shapes, colors, textures, patterns, designs, and compositions in the world around you. I also find it helpful to look at the work of other photographers to get new ideas and fresh perspectives, as well as draw inspiration from other areas of art. Sometimes I plan a shot out and think about the elements of the photograph far in advance before ever capturing the image, but often I just come across a scenario in nature that just presents itself as something worthy of being photographed. Then I ask myself "What is the best way I can translate the beauty [or whatever it is that attracted me to the scene in the first place] to others?" and I try to capture the subject in that way.