I feel very lucky to have lived in several areas around California that had natural environments so close by. There were trails and woods and, of course, the lake, that surrounded our North Lake Tahoe town. When we lived in Newbury Park, the grassy field around the corner was our play area and where we honed our skills at catching tadpoles, frogs, and tiny lizards (all to be released later). When we moved to Oxnard, I had easy access to the beach. After school, I would ride my bike the 1.5 miles to the beach and pier to walk the sandy shoreline looking for shells, see what the fishermen and women had caught from the pier that day, and watch the harbor seal that usually hung out at the pier anticipating an easy meal.  

This early exposure and involvement in the outdoors embedded a deep love of nature and all its creatures and led me to pursue advanced education in marine biology and environmental education to further my personal knowledge and to bring others on the journeys with me. Along the way, I discovered that taking images of my explorations was a great way to share the allure of these fascinating creatures and places.

I have a great desire for adventure and exploration, not only for the variety of wildlife in different locations but to also learn about different places, cultures, and people. My early inspirations for adventure and photography include Ansel Adams, Jacques Cousteau, Valeri Taylor, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Thomas Mangelsen, and Bob Talbot.