The Photographer

I grew up in a loving and patient family. They would look a long time at the pictures I took with the small Kodak "Instamatic" camera for the bird that was there... somewhere... We moved from Missouri to Arizona and there was less green for the birds to ''hide' in. During high school, Dad loaned me his 35 mm Argus Rangefinder and birds were marginally easier to find. I took four semesters of photography from Jim Casteel who taught me much and told me to buy Nikon, for then they were the only one still using metal housings. Of course, if he caught me using the auto setting, he'd flunk me. Thanks, Mr. Casteel.

Then came the fist telephoto lens and birds got easier to find, and frogs, and grasshoppers, and... you get the picture. Shooting snow geese

At Northern Arizona University I majored in forestry and finished with a minor in journalism that included a photo course. Then I ended up in Virginia and traveled up and down the east coast, finding items that didn't move as much as birds - lighthouses, covered bridges, and flowers (when no wind was blowing).

I moved back to Arizona and worked for the US Forest Service one summer, was a junior varsity softball coach, then landed in the Land of Enchantment working for New Mexico State Forestry - traveling around the state and to national conferences taking my camera and some personal time whenever possible. Only two states to go and lots of 'favorite' places to show Gerald, but shooting Nebraska will be my focus now.

Let me know if you're looking for something from way off the beaten path, I may have been there, or nearby.

Dedicated to Mr Casteel, Dad and the others who have influenced my photography path.

Equipment

I shoot digital almost exclusively now.
Nikon D2X ~ Nikon D100 ~ Tamron AF 28-200mm ~ Tamron AF 70-300mm
Nikon ED Fieldscope ~ Benro A358EX Tripod ~ Manfrotto 393 Long Lens Monopod Bracket Nikon Monfrotto tripod ~ Joby Gorillapod
Nikon CoolPix S6100 ~ Nikon 5400 ~ Nikon S50 ~ Fuji FinePix 4900 (retired)
Film: Nikon FM2 ~ Nikon FE ~ Sigma 28-200mm