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As a kid, I was blessed with a family who loved the outdoors and we found ourselves in the woods at every opportunity. Of particular influence to me were the summer vacations to National Parks and Monuments. I was awestruck standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, my first view of the Rocky Mountains left me speechless, Zion made me giddy, Mesa Verde sparked my sense of wonder, and in the Smokies I could feel the very energy of life. And at each place, even as a little kid, I had a camera in hand. Though I have spent as much of my life as possible in the wilderness, I didn’t realize until fairly recently, that the wilderness is life itself.
I knew I wanted a career that would provide me with the opportunity to work outdoors, so in college I studied geology. Besides, field trips gave me an excuse to go camping! I hold BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Geology and I am constantly amazed by this dynamic and beautiful world we call home. Since those college days I have had a varied 20+ year career working in Geology, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Remediation, and Environmental Protection. Not as much outdoor work as I had initially hoped for but with ample opportunities to get out and explore and photograph.
My first camera was a Kodak 110 Pocket Instamatic! I quickly moved to 35mm and I worked with that format for many years until I eventually graduated to medium and large format photography. Around 2000, I started getting serious about sharing my photography and began to learn all I could about the "digital revolution." Programs like Photoshop and Lightroom put me in control of the entire process of making beautiful images and digital cameras allowed for unlimited experimentation. I found NPN in 2003 and quickly joined. NPN is such a wonderful resource and a way to interact with photographers at all levels. I've learned quite a bit from beginners and pros alike. I’ve never had any formal training in photography so that experimentation with digital cameras and the constructive interactions and camaraderie of NPN was critical to helping me sharpen my instincts and develop my skills. Today, using professional digital SLRs, state-of-the-art printers, and sophisticated software, I am finally able to produce photographs I am very proud of.
I currently live in northern New Mexico, a place full of beautiful vistas, mountains, valleys, canyons, rivers, and abundant wildlife. In 5 minutes I can be deep in a canyon with only coyotes and canyon wrens for company. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
You can view my photography at www.ravenmountain.com.