Difficult times can sometimes reveal unexpected passions, and for me, that silver lining appeared during the early days of Covid. Searching for a new outlet, I picked up a camera, initially drawn by the blend of art and technology and the simple excuse to get outdoors. Little did I know, this casual hobby would soon evolve into a deep-rooted obsession with wildlife photography.
Perhaps my earliest spark for the intersection of animals and imagery began long ago. I needed to make some cash during the summers in high school, so I landed a summer job at Sea World of Ohio (way before 'Blackfish' mind you.) My role? Photographing guests interacting with dolphins at Dolphin Cove. Imagine: a teenager, entrusted with top-of-the-line camera gear, capturing fleeting moments of joy, never working past sunset, and surrounded by some of the ocean's most intelligent creatures. It was an unforgettable introduction to the magic of capturing life through a lens.
Fast forward to 2018, I acquired my first 'real' camera, a Sony a6000, primarily for travel and candid shots of my beloved dog. Then, two years later, as the world slowed down with Covid, I began to crave outdoor exploration. Sunrises and sunsets became my initial subjects, though the suburban landscapes felt a bit... uninspired.
That changed one pivotal day in a local forest preserve. I photographed a small, intensely blue bird. Having always loved the color blue, I was astonished to realize such vibrant creatures (beyond the common blue jay) had existed around me my entire life, entirely unnoticed. Fueled by curiosity – and before I knew about Merlin Bird ID – I embarked on a deep dive into Google, eventually identifying my 'spark bird': the stunning Indigo Bunting.
I was utterly hooked. My days became dedicated to not only photographing but also learning about every bird in the area I never knew existed. I soon grasped the incredible phenomena of migration, discovering the myriad of 'crazy' visitors that graced our region for brief periods during their multi-thousand-mile journeys. I began sharing my initial, often clumsy, photos on Instagram, connecting with fellow amateur wildlife photographers across the globe. Their feeds unveiled a world of birds I'd never imagined – a bird with a spoon-shaped bill called a spoonbill? Seriously?!
The only logical next step was travel. I needed to see for myself: Do spoonbills truly exist in the wetlands of Florida? Can a Great Gray Owl really hunt prey beneath feet of snow in Minnesota? Do Bald Eagles truly congregate by the hundreds along the mighty Mississippi River? The answers, I'm thrilled to say, were a resounding yes.
Having witnessed and photographed so many amazing birds in different parts of the country, my focus began to broaden. Living in the Midwest, large mammal encounters are generally limited to white-tailed deer, which, while beautiful, don't quite offer the same thrill as something more... epic. I longed for a place where apex predators roamed freely, a landscape teeming with diverse large mammals. The choice was clear: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. From my very first visit, I quickly understood why these lands are a photographer's dream, consistently leaving with full memory cards and an abundance of incredible moments and lasting memories. These experiences ignited a deeper passion: to not just witness, but to share.
Through it all, my incredible wife has been a constant source of encouragement and understanding, patiently listening to my latest birding adventures and celebrating every new capture. My aim with these photographs is to bring the magic of the wild into your home, highlighting the intricate beauty, resilience, and often unseen lives of the creatures with whom we share this planet.
