Tell us a bit about yourself and your family and how you came to live in Squamish.
I came to Squamish about 23 years ago to raise a family.听Vancouver, where I was raised, had changed so much that my wife and I didn鈥檛 feel it had the environment and values we wanted to instill in our children.
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What do you do for a living?
I partnered up with another Squamish resident to start a new wireless lighting control听business here called Echoflex Solutions. We now have 15 employees and are one of the below-the-radar high-tech companies operating in Squamish.
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When did you start taking photos?
I have been taking photos since high school in the early 鈥�70s and was quite serious at the time. It was all film, of course.听
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听How has your photography evolved?
With the advent of digital photography, there was a significant step-up in equipment required.听When business and family responsibilities finally allowed me to make the leap, I did it with both feet and went all-in.听
I have been intensely re-learning the art, and also the technology behind digital photography.听I have come a long way in the past two years, but still have much further to go. I love the learning process, I love trying new things, I love practising the art of 鈥渟eeing鈥� and the techniques in capturing what I see. I am highly visual.
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What are your favourite subjects to shoot?
Nature in general.听From landscape to macro shots.听Flora, fauna.听Still life, dynamic images 鈥� I like it all.听I really enjoy getting into unusual situations, positions and hard-to-get-to places.听Night photography has always been a passion.
Animals and birds are favourites, as we have so many around us.听A听bit more time and scouting is required to start capturing some of the many bigger local inhabitants like bears, deer, elk, cougars, bobcats, but I will get them.听
I very much enjoy finding and capturing contrast. This often shows up as an old truck in the forest, covered in moss or some other human element, seemingly out of place in a natural environment.听
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What sort of equipment do you use? What are your favourite pieces of photo equipment?听听
I am a Nikon guy and have been since the 鈥�70s.听 Currently running D800s, with a wide variety of lenses.听The favourite lenses (or most commonly on my camera) are the 200-400 f4 Nikkor and the 24-70 f2.8 Nikkor.听
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When did you start taking photographs of wildlife?
The wildlife shooting started in earnest here in Squamish, as it is a target-rich environment. I have always been into the outdoors 鈥� hiking, biking, camping 鈥� and find my time in nature as some of the most pleasant moments.听Shooting the moving subjects came from the challenge they represent. It is not easy to get a bird of the wing 鈥� they will not stop and pose for you.听
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What is easiest to shoot? What is most difficult?
I find the macro and landscape shots a bit easier than the ones with animals as you can often use a tripod. Around here, you have to be very fast on the draw in order to capture the quickly changing environment.听Weather, sun angle and clouds all change the scene very quickly.听Going out specifically to 鈥済et a shot鈥� is a bit more challenging, especially if the subject is unpredictable, but that is the added excitement to the whole thing.听
You never know what you are going to get, and I find you always need to look behind you, as that is often where the unexpected and extraordinary image will be found.
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What鈥檚 the most unusual thing that has happened while out on a shoot?
A deer walked up behind me while I was shooting mushrooms in the forest.听 They are completely silent when moving 鈥� really scared me.
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Do you usually hike to the spots you photograph?听
I hike, or bike, or go by 4x4 to the remote spots.听
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Do you usually like to go with others or alone?
I usually go alone.听This allows more focus, less distraction, less chance of someone making a move to scare a subject.听Alone in nature is a wonderful feeling for me.
Do you aim for certain times of day?
Dramatic light is a favourite of mine. That can happen at any time, but is more likely in the morning and evening. In all, I am an opportunist and go out ready for anything that might come my way or catch my eye.
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Do you often bring your camera along?
I pretty much always have a camera with me.听Day to day, a small Nikon point and shoot (water and shock-proof for the hiking or biking and rainy weather). If I travel for photography, then I take the big one.听The big camera with the big lens is about 15 lb. and is a handful, so climbing mountains with it is a commitment.听
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In terms of your photography, do you have any goals, something you鈥檇 like to shoot next?
I still am working on the best way to capture the big old-growth forest that surrounds my cabin, and other areas around here. It is hard from a lighting, composition, subject matter, point of view.听 I keep trying.听 I still am looking for the perfect eagle shot, and would like to hone my skills in 鈥渇orest portraiture.鈥�
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Why do you enjoy photography so much?
There is always, always something new, and there is always another way of looking at the same thing.听Through the four seasons, the Sea to Sky area is unlimited in subject matter. I enjoy sharing the images and letting people see things they may have missed or just cannot get out and see for themselves.
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If someone is just starting out in landscape/wildlife photography, what sort of equipment do you recommend they buy?
The equipment is not the most important thing to start with.听 I started back into photography with a little point and shoot in my pocket.听Getting out there and 鈥渟eeing鈥� is the first thing, then learning your subject matter.听
In the end, a good camera and lens will make a significant difference in the quality of the images captured.听
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听Do you have any other tips for amateur photographers?
Train your eye.听听
Learn your camera well, so that the controls become instinctive, as the opportunities arrive fast, and you cannot be fumbling with buttons and dials.听
I go out every day when I can, just to try something new or practise something so I am ready when 鈥渢he shot鈥� comes along.
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Where are your favourite places to shoot in Squamish?
I like the forest 鈥� a lot.
I听 like the estuary for its abundance of life and settings.
I like getting up high. The different view point appeals to me.
I like macro. You can do that anywhere, your desk at home, your garden, anywhere. Small things made big is cool.
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Is there anything you鈥檇 like to add about photography or about Squamish?
We live in a magical place, often visually overwhelming. Drink it in, and photograph it if you can.听听
There is no end to the images that can be created and captured.听
