I grew up playing outdoors. I have fond memories of family camping trips, camp outs with the Boy Scouts, and playing in the streets in the neighborhood (and beyond). The sounds of nature are calming, even if there is no sound at all.

I was about seven when I got my first camera and it used 120 roll film. Most of the pictures I took were of people standing in front of buildings and landmarks. Later on, I got a camera that used flash cubes. And my pictures were transformed into people standing indoors. At that time pictures were on film and every shot counted. Wasted pictures meant buying another roll of film and paying for it to be developed not easy on 25 cents a week allowance.

While I was stationed in Germany my roommate introduced me to 35 mm SLR’s. It was all manual, so I had to learn f-stops, shutter speed, ASA, depth of field, flash, composition, and so much more. It was exciting and I dove into every book I could find on photography.

There was a dark room/developing lab on base where we could develop and print our pictures. I would go there after my trips around southern Germany to develop my pictures. Besides film was inexpensive and available everywhere. When I returned to the states it was back to having the film developed at a store and creativity was edited out of every shot.

Many years later I bought my first digital camera, wow that was a game changer. Using computer software I could process my own pictures again. Creativity restored! I’ve since moved up to DSLR’s and Photoshop. Now I travel around the states, mostly the Ozarks, taking pictures.

I’m satisfied. I get to go outdoors, hike to waterfalls, visit old homesteads, catch scenic views, watch wildlife, admire wildflowers, and share those images with you.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did in taking them.