I am a 42 year old Central California native. I have always enjoyed nature. I got my first experience with photography while in Germany. I was in the army there. I bought a Pentax K1000 manual 35mm camera 80-200 macro zoom lens. I enjoyed taking photos, but never really learned how to deal with the challenges of creating dynamic images. Some years went by, about 20, before I found myself engaged by spectacular landscape and wildlife images. They were from top pros like the late Galen Rowell, Art Wolfe, Darwin Wigget, and Tom Till. I found myself in Jackson Wyoming on vacation with a point and shoot digital camera. I was impressed with the images. But when I was unable to capture a grizzly bear feeding on an elk carcass in low light after sunset, I realized I needed to get a more capable camera. Hence, came a Nikon D200! So now, I am trying to become a more capable photographer! The biggest reward is being out in nature and going to some of the wonderful places to try and capture my own images.