On a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean about seven miles south of Half Moon Bay, my parents stopped to look at the vast expanse of blue. At 10 years old and with a tiny Kodak Instamatic in hand, the first picture was not of the scenic view. It was a little Scottish Terrier wandering around with its owner. I centered my subject in the viewfinder, pressed the button, and felt the click of the shutter. It felt good.

There was a Polaroid in the '70s during high school — fun for capturing moments, but doing little for a sense of creative photography. Graphic arts work sharpened the visual eye. Black and white darkroom work for newspaper stories followed.

Concert and club photography with the Olympus OM10 in the '80s — the most fun one could possibly have. A 75–200mm lens and a crowd. Newspaper photography rounds out the decade.

By the 1990s I moved to video, briefly found work at a local television station, and discovered that editing with voice overs was a great way to tell stories. In the 21st century, the digital camera has been a joy. Technology allowed for new challenges — hummingbird photography among them.

Photography is enjoyable because of the results, but it is also great to meet nature on its own terms. Whether harsh winter conditions or an oppressive summer day, it is as important to feel the picture as it is to see the image.