As I look back to how my interest in photography was nurtured, I think first of my high school art teacher. Mr. Bob Rhoads encouraged my shutterbug tendencies by teaching me how to develop film and print black-and-white photos in the darkroom.
During my last semester of senior year, I had three periods of art class. (This was in the "dark ages" when Indiana schools wouldn't let you graduate early, even if you had earned all essential credits.) I spent most of those hours either taking photos or developing the film and working in the darkroom. Experimenting with changing the exposure time of the print, and watching the image appear on the photo paper as I moved it with tongs from tray to tray – developer to fixer to the water tray for rinsing – was exciting. I could spend hours in this creative process to get the finished print I envisioned. I was hooked.
I continued exploring my craft in my university's photography classes, spent my share of hours in its darkroom, and even purchased my own darkroom equipment during my college years.
Summer employment opportunities at my local small town newspaper in Indiana led me in the direction of journalistic photography, as I was assigned to cover events like the county fair and the arrival of the Delta Queen riverboat on our riverfront.
Throughout much of my work life as a writer/editor and public relations consultant, I completed employee newsletters and quarterly magazines from start to finish, including interviews, writing articles, and completing design. Photography was also a major part of my work, as I covered events and took photos to accompany the feature articles I wrote.
I have long been the "go-to" person when someone wants photos taken at a party, when friends need quick "head shots," or when friends need a photographer at a wedding or anniversary celebration. However, my favorite type of photography is... TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY!
While past travels have taken me to the British Isles and Germany, as well as picturesque areas within the U.S., my love of islands and scuba diving has hugely impacted my travel destination choices for the past two-and-a-half decades. If you love tropical photography, with a few other destinations added to the mix (including Texas, my home since 2006), I hope you'll enjoy my photo journeys and perhaps want to add one or more of my photos to your home or office decor.
Link to my photo gallery on SmugMug:
http://photojourneys.smugmug.com