Landscape photography is more than a passion for me...it's an absolute love affair! I took my first photograph at the age of nine from Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park. That single slide had me saving for my first camera, a little plastic Kodak Instamatic, which I continued to use through high school. In my early 20s I purchased a Pentax K1000 and took the rare opportunity between life and motherhood to get out and shoot, when I could afford the time as well as film and processing. In 2009, my boys grown, I regained some independence and rediscovered my "first love" of landscape photography spending every possible moment exploring my little corner of the world with my camera along for the ride.

Those moments are still not as often as I'd like. By day, I keep myself grounded working as a special education assistant at the middle school level...a sometimes difficult, but rewarding career. On weekends and holidays when I'm not out shooting for myself, I work (and have tons of fun) as a professional photography instructor for Aperture Academy. The opportunity to combine teaching and photography not only keeps me on my toes, but affords even more time to spend in some of my favorite places with some truly fantastic people.

For me, it is not all about the pursuit of capturing beauty from a moment in time at a particular place, nor do I attach any political motivations to my images. It is more in the adventure of being in the moment as a singular element to the scenes I feel privileged to witness. I am often humbled when I find myself without another soul around, often listening to no more than a quiet stillness, feeling the solid earth beneath my feet while gazing at a fiery red sunset, the rush of a glistening waterfall, or millions of stars in the darkness of night. If I can convey that kind of feeling through my images, a oneness with the world, of giving the viewer the feeling of being there, albeit vicariously, I am both honored and pleased. It's been a long road getting here and I still have so much to learn, but oh, I am so loving the adventure.

The gear I use:

Cameras: Pentax K-5, Pentax K-7

Lenses: Pentax DA*16-50mm 2.8, Pentax DA*50-135mm 2.8

Filters: Hoya Circular Polarizer, Cokin Z-Pro ND8, Hoya NDX400

Tripod: Velbon El Carmagne 640

Camera Bag: F-stop Satori XP w/large ICU

Vehicle: Nissan X-Terra 4wd

Shooting Companions: My dogs, Merry and Pippin