 As
a young teenager I remember spending countless hours
composing photographs with my first camera, a 35mm
Fujica STX1, often without any film in the
camera body. At 15, I landed my first real job doing sales
and clean-up work at a local camera shop/lab/studio. Within
a couple of years, I was the lead color printer and
fortunate to have a boss who mentored my interest in
photography. Soon, all my extra money was going towards
camera equipment, film, and processing.
Around this time, I also became enamored with the work of
Galen Rowell, one of the greatest
adventure photographers of all time, who sadly died (along
with his wife and two friends) in a tragic plane crash in
2002. I still remember attending his workshops/slideshows
and being impressed by his approachability, kindness, and
gift for seeing things others miss. Even more, his
adventures to
remote wild places inspired my
imagination, and continues to do so to this day.
In 1984 I had an
opportunity to photograph the first U.S. women's Olympic
marathon trials, and was fortunate a national magazine,
Runner's World, published one of my photos. Additional
assignments followed, including work for
United Press
International. By my senior year of high
school I found myself having to make one of my significant
life-crossroads decisions: get a general four-year college
degree, or pursue my passion for photography by applying
to a professional photography school. In the end, I chose a
business degree from the
University of Oregon.
Although I never pursued a career in photography, to this
day I enjoy capturing moments that move me in some way.
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