The Photography
I am relatively new to the world of photography, buying my first DSLR mid-2008… I consider myself a self- taught “hack” photographer without an artisitc bone in my body…
For me, photography provides a means through which to experience, capture, relive, and share the artistry that nature renders… Photography has motivated and inspired me to become much more aware of the surroundings; the endless interactions of light and shadows caused by ever-changing weather resulting in both subtle and dramatic landscapes… I can honeslty say that a day doesn’t go by that I do not appreciate the percieved “simple” everyday occurrences (e.g., sunrises, sunsets, clouds, stars, fog, etc.), in addition, to those breathtaking landscapes in which, “speechless” is the only worthy description…
Photography is a continuous learning experience and provides a constant challenge to develop as a photographer…
Whether it being a sleepless night (or two), intense hike/snowshoe lugging all my camera gear in order to catch a sunrise/sunset, starry night, winter storm, or a relatively simple drive across “The Bay” to watch the fog roll through the Golden Gate from atop the Marin Headlands, I learn something new each and every time I shoot… I am often inspired by the creativity of the countless photographers I have met in person while shooting, in addition to those whose online work I follow… “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…”
Background
In a nutshell, I grew up in lovely Pennsylvania, more specifically Bethlehem, PA… As a younster, my family introduced me to the outdoors at a very young age (and for some reason dressed me in many questionable outfits)… As I got older, I became more and more involved sports… I played multiple sports in high school before focusing soley on soccer and football (kicker) at Millersville University… Even at a young age I was fascinated by the weather, especially snowstorms and thunderstorms… There it was! I was going to study Meteorology at Millersville University before moving onto the University of Virginia’s Atmospheric Science department…“Yes, I realize I am in a profession where I can be wrong 90% of the time”, “No, I don’t star gaze”, “No, I am not on TV”, “No I didn’t enjoy the movies Twister or Contact:, etc… I have heard it all…
Long story longer… So to this point it has been Sports and Science, no Art whatsoever… I bounced around after graduate school, living in Petaluma, CA (Air Quality Meteorologist), then back to Washington D.C. (Nuclear, Chemical, Biological, Radiological Weapons Meteorologist)… I honestly didn’t take full advantage of my initial stint in California and I swore that if I ever made it back that I would take full advantage and take nothing for granted… So when the opportunity arose to move back to the Bay Area it was a no brainer… Making the move extremely easy was having a great bunch of friends that I had forged an indescribable relationship with weeks before moving back to Washington D.C.. I can’t thank them enough for everything; you guys, girls, and dogs know who you are… So here I am living in the Bay Area, working in the Alternative Energy sector, and can’t imagine a more dynamic place to live… I picked up a camera as a way to document all the journeys and adventures that this beautiful place offers…
Favorites
A few of my favorite places to be with my camera are:
- Yosemite Valley after a snowstorm watching the fog snake along the Merced River, while at the same time playing hide-n-seek with El Capitan and Half Dome,
- the Marin Headlands watching the bright white, cotton-like fog wind its way through the Golden Gate,
- and of course anywhere in the MODOC with the best group of friends…
Thank You
If you have actually made it this far it’s most likely more information than you needed; however, a sincere thanks for taking the time to stop by… I hope everyone enjoys the photographs as much as I enjoy the adventures trying to capture dramatic landscapes in all different types of weather and lighting… Thanks so much for all the support, it is much appreciated! I am sincerely grateful for all the support from my family, to my best friends, to all of my “gym” friends, and to my coworkers who have all been subjected to my obsessive, slightly neurotic, and sometime annoying hobby at one time or another…
Mark
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