Photography has always been synonymous with fun and magic.

As a kid, it was fun to compose and create, magic to develop and process, and fun to share. It was fun to seek out photos and to engage people, and magic to travel to new lands or find the unusual in familiar places. It was magic to convey an emotion or make a point and touch others through visual imagery that I created.

As an adult, photography continues to be more fun and magical than I ever dreamed! Despite changes in technology that have occurred during my lifetime, the esthetic of photography remains much the same.

The creative mind of the photographer is still the most important element in a great photo. The camera doesn’t create a photograph any more than a hammer designs a building; it’s merely a tool that allows us to create our vision.

Today, my camera bag holds two mirrorless cameras, an infrared camera, a point-and-shoot, and assorted iPhones. Of these tools, I credit my use of iPhones since 2010 with providing more opportunities to practice the esthetics of photography, making me a better photographer regardless of the camera I'm using. I'm grateful that I remain passionate about photography and that the endeavor I began so long ago is still fun and magical!