Photographing nature, animals, flowers, seascapes and landscapes, is what got me into photography in the first place.
The turning point, which turned my love of photography from enthusiast to professional, was a photo safari I took to Alaska in 2001. Leading the expedition was my good friend from college, Rich Reid, who shoots for National Geographic. After spending two weeks, traveling three thousand miles, and shooting 90 rolls of film, I was hooked.
Upon returning to Santa Barbara and processing all that film, Rich examined my work and told me that I had the potential to go professional. The rest is history. It didn't take long before I began to dive into the local beauty of my hometown, focusing on the beaches and coastal mountains.
Unlike photographing people, shooting nature is minimally invasive. It provides a special connectedness and aura of peace. Great nature photography often seems to be universally appreciated and admired.