Nature photography has been my passion for the last 10 years. Looking for photographs in the outdoors makes me feel connected with nature. It puts me into a meditative state of mind by forcing me to slow down and observe. Once I slow down, I find great beauty in common plants and animals. The challenge then, is to find a way to capture that beauty and create a well composed and exposed photograph. I try to show that each tree or animal is unique with its own sense of identity and personality. I find that the most challenging subjects are wildlife. One needs to understand their behavior patterns and anticipate their movements. My camera must be pre-set and my frame pre-composed, just waiting for the animal to enter the frame. This forces me to try to read the mind of the animal while trying not to disturb its behavior patterns, and maintain my safety. I feel lucky that nature is not copyrighted. I feel that many times “the art” has already been made and all I am doing is recording it. I have found however that many people do not see the beauty either because they don’t have a chance to travel or that they do not take the time to look. My hope is that my pictures can bring the outdoors inside for these people. Seeing begins the process of understanding. Understanding brings appreciation, a sense of value and an urge to protection these unique animals and environments.