Photography has always been a part of my life. The greatest attribution to my love of photography can be summed up in one word, family. My father was a serious hobbyist and I was clearly shaped by his passion for photography, our family vacation slide shows, and his photographs that adorned our walls. I owned a camera at a young age but formal training in photography occurred during the many courses that I took at Sacramento City College en route to my degree in psychology. But my passion really blossomed years later with the advent of digital photography and the instant feedback that it provides. Fortunately for me, I was not the only family member that was shaped by my father’s photography. As my brother Gary made the decision to ride the digital wave by starting a business leading landscape photography workshops. I have assisted him in many workshops over the last 12 years and continue to assist him multiple times per year. I have benefitted greatly from having such an experienced and accomplished photographer plan and fund trips to some of the most beautiful locations in the west. Being in the right place at the right time is a big part of successful photography. These experiences helped hone my photographic eye. Organizing a scene and all that it encompasses, light, color, lines, shapes, textures, patterns, depth and movement, has become pure joy for me. I’m in my element with a camera on a tripod in front of me. The satisfaction of the “aha” moment when the chaos begins to take form is what drives me. I thrive on the anticipation of an expected moon rise or the developing clouds before sunset; knowing that I will be recording a moment that will never repeat itself exactly. For many years I have been content with collecting my photos for my own enjoyment, occasionally sharing them with friends and family. Artists Collaborative Gallery provides me with a new opportunity to share some of these moments with others.