What was your first camera?
A Canon AE-1 with a 50 mm F/1.8 lens.

What type of equipment do you use most frequently?
I use the Canon Rebel series cameras most frequently. When I switched to digital, I purchased two Rebel XT camera bodies and a few lenses. I have since upgraded to a Rebel XTi and will soon upgrade again to a Rebel XSi. These cameras are simple to use, compact, inexpensive and pack a powerful megapixel punch. I also use a Canon EOS 1D camera. This is my primary “big” landscape camera, while the Rebel cameras are primarily for wildlife.

Where were you born and raised?
Born in Pensacola, Florida but raised in small town called High Springs about 250 miles east of Penascola and 60 miles south of Georgia. I love this area because we have abundant, clean fresh water, a great climate suitable for year-round activities, lots of trees, protected areas, and rural space coupled with access to nearby cities, and miles of beaches and coast with a hint of tropical flavor.

When did you start taking pictures?
December 25, 1996. That’s when I got my first camera and shot my first photograph of a gnarled oak tree from my front yard. The picture was terrible, but alas, here I am!

Where did you study?
Formal schooling came first from a local community college then the University of Florida where I eventually earned a degree in journalism, specializing in photojournalism. Informal schooling, but just as official, comes from life. In fact I would argue that life itself is the best classroom where anything and everything is a teacher. I’ve learned more by traveling, talking, observing, asking, seeking, exploring, and doing than I’ve ever learned in a classroom. And I tend to remember life’s lesson more easily.

How did you get started as a professional nature photographer?
It took me years to become a “professional” nature photographer. I got started by spending my hard earned money to travel and photograph. As soon as I could drive I was traveling throughout Florida and to the southern Appalachians where I pursued mostly landscape scenes. It’s easiest to get started in photography through the landscape. This helped a great deal in the beginning stages of my work. As I got better, I began giving slide shows and exhibiting my work. Still, I wasn’t a full time nature photographer. I actually took some time off from the rigors of pursuing a photographic career. Instead, I worked odd jobs and did a lot of backcountry hiking. After about two years I decided it was time to pick up photography again. Suddenly everything started to come together. I met Art Wolfe, who became a great friend and mentor. I started getting more involved with the capabilities of the Web. Networking helped build my reputation as a passionate, hard-working and talented photographer. I've matured and my outlook is more realistic. Working close to home, using minimal resources to create maximum impact, earning a modest living, relative independence from editors and corporate thinking – that is my path. And that’s what I do. I work with conservation organizations because that’s what I’m passionate about. I work heavily through the Web, host fundraisers, create project ideas and promote them, write article queries, self-publish books, and more. I also pick up side jobs like weddings and certain types of commercial freelance to make ends meet.

Do you work on assignment or create your own?
Both. I take assignment requests one at a time and judge them on their own merit. But mostly I’m drumming up ideas of my own and figuring out how to sell them.

What is it like working on assignment? How do you prepare?
Many assignments require that I survive independently from the amenities of society. So I have to deal with the elements – rain, snow, wind, sun, etc – and the good and bad of nature. Bugs, rugged terrain, dangerous animals, and injury are some of the challenges I have to deal with daily. I’m often in remote locations looking for the most beautiful spots a particular place has to offer. I look for open ridges, waterfalls, mountain peaks, steep cliffs, old growth forests, places where animals congregate, and many other features of the landscape that could result in a good photograph.

I prepare for assignments with routine exercise that includes strength training, cardiovascular exercise, core strengthening, and meditation. These things help me be prepared physically and mentally for the most challenging assignments. Photographically I research the location I’m traveling to by reading maps, searching the Web, and talking to people. I plan ahead but remain flexible to spur-of-the-moment changes.

How much equipment do you take when you go on assignment?
I take two camera bodies, one for wildlife and one for landscapes (although the two can be switched). Mainly I carry two bodies incase one breaks. But when both are working I dedicate each one to a specific use and change them only when needed. I also take a variety of lenses that range from 17 mm to 700 mm. I use a lightweight tripod, and carry accessories like remote shutter releases, some filters, batteries, lens cleaning cloths, Compact Flash Cards, etc.

What besides camera equipment do you pack?
Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, food, stove, water, maps, GPS, clothing, ID, laptop, external hard drives, business cards, notepad, and some survival gear like a magnesium stick and knife, thin “rope,” space blanket, whistle, etc.

How does it pay? Is it hard to make a living from it?
Terrible! And heck yeah it’s hard! But you know what, I’m not in it for the money. If I cared about money I wouldn’t be a nature photographer. I make a living however I can. My opinion is that to be successful as a nature photographer you have to be willing to photograph more than just nature, especially when starting out. Even photographers with full time jobs shoot freelance on the side because many salaried staff positions don’t pay. I’d rather be poor and shoot only what I want than be a little less poor and work for someone. Commercial freelance pays well, so I shoot freelance whenever I get the chance.

Do you have a favorite photograph?
Nope. Scenes come and go; moments are here one minute, then they are gone forever. Sure it feels great to capture a fleeting moment, but that doesn’t erase the fact that the moment is gone. I love it when I can capture a fleeting moment but prefer to always look ahead.

What subjects do you like to photograph the most?
Mountainous landscapes. I love landscapes in general, but there is something about big mountains that draws me. My favorite range is the North Cascades in Washington State.

How many images do you have and how do you keep track of them?
My database contains a little more than 42,000 images, but I only ustilize about 3,000 (give or take a 1,000). I keep track of my images using a tried-and-true custom "workflow" and professional photographic organizational software. The workflow is the important part because that is something the individual creates to his or her specific situation. It’s a creative process actually and can be quite interesting and rewarding. That was my experience. I was not a very organized person at one time. I had to learn the organizational skills that I have now.

Where has your work been published?
I’ve mostly been published in newspapers through working at UF during my college days. When a photo hits the AP wire, it can go anywhere. I began to loose track. The USA Today, Miami Herald are two big ones, National Geographic News (online), and some magazines have picked up my work too. I get published in specialized brochures, and was published in a book.

Do you exhibit your work in galleries? If so where?
Not really. Only occasionally does an exhibition featuring my work pop up. The Web is my gallery. That is the best bang for the buck. I can reach countless people with minimal investment in time and money. When exhibits featuring my work do open, I am sure to announce the event on the web and via email. Registering with my Web site means you too can receive the email updates.

Who were your early influences?
My dad. No one in my family was a photographer and I taught myself the craft because I knew it was a gateway to the “world.” As far as photography goes, I really liked the work of John Fielder, Art Wolfe, Steve McCurry, Nick Nichols, David Alan Harvey, and a few others – mainly people who were known as adventurers as much as great photographers.

Are digital cameras as good as film cameras?
That depends on what kind digital camera you’re talking about. Even if it’s not a great digital camera in terms of the resolution of images it produces, I would still recommend digital for other reasons. Mostly, I recommend digital because it’s easier to use than film, less expensive, less wasteful, and it inherently sharpens the learning curve for beginners. The caveat is archiving the data (images). But since our world is going digital in other ways (phones, laptops, wireless devices, etc) and memory is getting cheaper and cheaper, it’s not that hard to buy and learn how to use the equipment needed to capture, output and archive photographs or any other digital media such as audio and video. The big expensive digital cameras, like the top end Nikon and Canon cameras, are just as good and often better in terms of resolution than any slide film. And it’s only going to get better and cheaper.

How can I prepare for a career in nature photography?
If you want to do just nature photography you might want to consider a single idea and get really, really good at it. To help yourself come up with an idea, consider using specialized equipment like macro or large format; consider a specific subject; or consider a specific “look” to your work like angles, light, or filters. If you want to make a living as a photographer in general, I recommend diversifying your shooting abilities and the subjects you capture. Be able to shoot anything from portraits, to illustrations and conceptual work, weddings, journalism, nature, wildlife, etc. Learn how to use technology. You must have a web presence to succeed in this business. Last but not least, network with photographers and photography-related organizations and publications.

What advice would you give to young photographers who want to start their own business?
The number one piece of advice I have is to create a Web presence for yourself. Your very own Web site is ideal, but you can start with community Web sites like MySpace or Flickr. Enroll in business classes. Be very organized in your photography workflow. Use your “beginners” equipment to its maximum capabilities before investing in new equipment. You must be an idea person. Create achievable goals and go for them full force. If you sit back and think it’ll come to you, you’ll be waiting for a long time. Pay attention to your surroundings at all times. You never know when an opportunity will arise. Oh, and be a good photographer, practice and hone your skills.

Who designed your web site?
The base of my web site is a template. The content is managed through an open source CMS called Joomla! I manage all the content. My friend, a trained IT technician, is responsible for doing all the things that I don’t know how to do in order to make it all happen initially. The site exists because of him.