(See 20 of my favorite images of the decade, or leave your comments, on the full Facebook post.)
January 2020 marked the end of my first decade of photography. When I purchased my first camera in January of 2010 in order to take better photos for eBay listings, I had no idea I would be completely changing my life. I quickly became obsessed with the way light and optics work, experimenting with all the camera's manual settings. Since I made my own schedule as a self-employed computer consultant, I had all the time I desired to nurture this new photo hobby. I read for hours each day, learning everything I could. Living in Minneapolis, I photographed the available subjects: architecture and portraiture.
Within a year of starting photography, inspired by a road trip with friends through the amazing mountain and desert landscapes of the American West, I moved to Southern California. After realizing I needed changing seasons and weather in my life, I then moved to Oregon, and decided to focus exclusively on nature and landscape photography. I lived there on and off for about 7 years, shooting the local Pacific Northwest landscapes, while also making numerous extended trips to photograph the Desert Southwest. During that time, I transitioned from computer work to a photography income, my own style and direction began to take shape, my following grew, and I was even lucky enough to win a few international competitions, which helped solidify photography as a career. This all culminated in a big change last year, when my girlfriend Taylor and I traded our lives in Portland for full-time nomadic life in a travel trailer.
Looking back at what I was doing 10 years ago—IT work in a major city—I'm grateful for the direction nature photography has taken me. I've had the luxury of spending more time on it than most people would get in a lifetime, let alone in a decade. I’ve found a true passion, many friends, and a job I love: making art and teaching others how I do so. I live free, mostly in and around National Parks, surrounded by nature.
Where will I be in 2030? I can't say for sure, but I hope and imagine it will be nature photography!