Who am I? That’s a question I have never really been able to answer. I can tell you a little bit about my life and why I am becoming who I am. I grew up in the middle of hillbilly land, in Southwestern Virginia. When you think of hillbillies with overalls and old beat-up trucks, you are right on track. I spent most of my childhood, and early teen years outdoors. I feel this is what started my love for nature, and why I feel at home when I am in the woods. I joined the Army at 17, and right after high school, I went off to basic training. I joined the Army, to pay for college. Who would have ever guessed that I would have enjoyed it so much? The Army allowed me to travel and work outdoors for the first few years. Which was a perfect match for me. No matter if it was the forests in Germany, the sandy fields in Iraq, the tall pine trees in Georgia, or the wildness around central Alaska. I loved it all. Being medically retired from the Army early was devastating news for me.
After being retired, my wife and two kids a time moved back to Germany. At first, I had no idea, what to do with myself. I spent hours in the woods with my dog, just enjoying being outside. That’s probably what really pushed me to photography. I wanted to share with my wife, what I would see during the day while she was at work. I always liked to capture photos but never put any thought into becoming a photographer. As time went on I started to enjoy sharing my photos and telling stories about what saw. If you were to ask my wife why I enjoy photography, she would tell you it’s because I like nature more than people. She is right, I enjoy watching nature and feel at home when I am around it. That at home feeling is what I hope to share with my work. People should enjoy nature, and not every image has to show how extreme it can be.