Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 41 I am also enjoying getting back into some specialized commercial/ architectural photography. Last year I travelled to Missouri three times pho- tographing some amazing resort prop- erty there and I loved the challenge of using my fine art photography skills to showcase the property in a way others haven't seen it before. I am looking forward to working with a few select clients interested in my commercial/ architectural photography who are a little bit closer to home this year. IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SCHOOL AND PRIVATE LESSONS, DO YOU FOLLOW A FIXED SET OF PRINCIPLES FOR INSTRUC- TION? WHAT ARE THOSE PRINCIPLES? I teach a number of field, classroom, and online workshops and perhaps the most important principle I teach my photography students is to just have fun with the camera again. Photographers get too distracted with all the technical stuff regarding photography that they quickly forget why they like photography to begin with. Everyone is worried about things like megapixels, shadow detail, sensor size, camera brand, software, etc.. Photographers can get so wrapped up with all this tech stuff that I have seen people lose their love of photography over it and not even want to pick up a camera. Photography is technical for sure, but it is also emotional. We photograph subjects we love seeing and want to create a great shot of it. So I teach the technical in simple terms, make sure everyone has the basics down, then I try to enhance each individuals passion and show them how they can release that passion through their own photography. When it's all said and done, the technical means little when compared to the emotional response one has when viewing photographs. WHEN NOT WORKING, HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME? In a way I am almost always working, because I almost always have a camera nearby and you never know when you are going to come across great light. e majority of things I love to do for recreation can yield great images. Of course I love the outdoors so I enjoy camping, hiking, exploring, trav- eling, etc. So whenever I am out there I'll have at least one camera and lens with me. I am also fortunate that my fiancé, Whitney Hall, is a fine art wildlife painter who loves photographing her own subjects to use as reference for her paintings. We enjoy exploring this great state of Montana with our blue heeler always on the lookout for new and inspiring vistas and subjects to photograph. impact that only a large print can achieve." Fall in the Narrows Goldeneye Duck

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