I never wanted to be a photographer.

The only reason I began to formally learn about photography to begin with was just to fulfill class credit requirements. I was pursuing my associate’s degree out of high school and was simply trying to finish as quickly as possible. I signed up for Photography 1 and thought to myself “This will be an easy A.”

I left that first class feeling completely overwhelmed. Every fiber of my being was in flight mode and I was ready to drop the class. After some conversations and arm twisting, I stayed enrolled. Eventually, the technical jargon became easier to comprehend and the dust settled. My professor, now mentor, was really good about kicking that dust up, though.

I was afforded some really cool hands on experiences while studying photography. Most notable being photographing the Harlem Globetrotters, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, and flying in a small aircraft to capture aerial images of dams in our area.

School quickly wrapped up for me and I went through an aimless phase where I shot whatever, whenever. I almost fell out of love with the medium because there wasn’t really any life in the images I was making. I use ‘images’ instead of photographs to stress this point. This sent me down the rabbit hole of struggling with the lack of meaning I had found in my work. I watched one too many philosophical videos on photography and essentially discouraged myself from growing because I was convinced I’d never make anything like Sean Tucker, Peter McKinnon, and countless other YouTubers who'd grabbed my attention.

While this was happening, I made the mistake of saying out loud that I’d “Never be a teacher.” Shortly after making this grand statement, I got a call to return to the same technical college I’d recently graduated from. Repeat the previous cycle of completely overwhelmed, some conversations, and arm twisting, I agreed and began the following semester as an adjunct professor.

While I was there, I was able to spend most of my free time shooting the breeze with my mentor. Eventually, he introduced me to infrared photography. At last, a switch flipped. I was inspired and enthralled in the process surrounding this style. The step deeper into the science behind the photographic process was very interesting to me. I had a new challenge and I took off running with it. I shot infrared so intensely I had began to struggle with photographing typical, visible light images. Sounds weird, I know, but it is a real problem. I took time to intentionally put down infrared and shoot color for a while.

GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is something all photographers struggle with. Especially when the stores you shop from have a ‘Used’ or ‘Like New’ section. I found a sweet deal on a telephoto lens and decided I’d purchase it on a whim. After all, needed something fun to shoot with now that I’d been forced to shoot color again…

This is where my wildlife photography journey begins. I’m very early on in this journey and am so excited to see where it takes me. Already, I’ve been exploring parts of South Carolina I’d never seen before. I’m learning so much about animals; their habits, identification, migration, etc. It’s been so much fun!

The best thing that’s come out of this wildlife photography journey has come more from a mental health aspect. When I get stressed, or anxious, or obsessive, or sad, or any combination of these feelings, I can hold my camera up to my eye and feel those feelings fall away. Whether I’m walking around Dreher Island or the Wetlands in the Low Country, I’ve been given me an opportunity to get out in nature, to breathe fresh air, and to experience the wonders of God’s creation.

I started this page by saying that I didn’t want to be a photographer. Now, I know without a shadow of a doubt, that I’ve been called to be one. I hope to use my gift to glorify God’s creation and the wonders that surround Him.

To God be the Glory!