Who am I

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 Who am I? It’s a question I’ve never fully answered, but I can share the journey that’s shaping me. I grew up in the heart of Southwestern Virginia—hillbilly country, where overalls and beat-up trucks paint an accurate picture. My childhood and early teens were spent outdoors, roaming the woods, which sparked a lifelong love for nature. There’s something about the forest that feels like home.
At 17, I joined the Army to fund college, never imagining I’d fall in love with the life. Basic training kicked off right after high school, and the Army became a perfect fit. It let me travel and work outdoors, from Germany’s dense forests to Iraq’s sandy fields, Georgia’s towering pines, and the wilds of central Alaska. Every landscape fed my soul. But being medically retired early was a gut punch that left me lost.
After retirement, my wife, two kids, and I moved back to Germany. I struggled to find my place. Hours spent wandering the woods with my dog became my refuge, and that’s when photography took root. At first, I just wanted to share with my wife the beauty I saw while she was at work. I’d always snapped photos, but I never considered becoming a photographer. Over time, I found joy in sharing my images and the stories behind them. If you ask my wife why I love photography, she’d laugh and say it’s because I prefer nature to people. She’s not wrong.
Nature is where I feel grounded, and through my work, I hope to share that sense of peace. Not every image needs to scream adventure—sometimes, it’s about capturing the quiet beauty that reminds us to slow down and connect with the world around us.