“To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye and the heart.” 
                                                                                                       ― Henri Cartier-Bresson

My interest in photography began during law school, with a snap and shoot camera that I used to take pictures while hiking in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. Hiking was my primary outdoor pastime, but over time I began to focus increasingly on the variety and quality of the photos I was capturing. Over the years my interest in photography has expanded, and I have been fortunate to photograph many of the most iconic landscapes across the United States, as well as other amazing places around the world.

Photography is a great complement to my outdoor and travel adventures, and it has also greatly expanded my appreciation of and connection to these places. I find that it is a very solitary, personal endeavor that requires intense concentration and keen observation. Whether I’m exploring the varied geometry of a landscape or capturing a serendipitous wildlife encounter, I appreciate the challenge of slowing down to comprehend the various components of a scene, yet reacting quickly and decisively to fully assimilate or distill those elements into a compelling photograph.

I also take great pleasure in the constant challenge of creating something new every time I reach for my camera. Outdoor adventure and travel provide limitless opportunities for new photographic discoveries; however, unique photos don’t necessarily require new scenes, but instead fresh perspectives, awareness and engagement. Often these revelations only occur after repeated visits to a location and are enhanced by the frequent changes in weather, lighting and seasons, among many other variables that affect these landscapes.

While technical skills, experience and creativity are critical, above all photography requires connection. The most compelling photographs don’t simply capture a scene. They enable the viewer to experience but also transcend that moment, often intimating a profound connection between that scene and the person behind the viewfinder. I never tire of my photographic expeditions, because in addition to the enjoyment I derive from the practice of photography itself, I truly love these places. I’m continuously filled with wonder at the incredible variety of landscapes and natural scenes across the country that are my photographic stalking ground. I now also have the wonderful opportunity to observe and photograph my two young daughters as they make their first connections with these special places. In addition, I’m lucky to work for The Conservation Fund, an organization that channels the amazing skills, experience and creativity of its staff and partners into some of the most innovative land and water conservation work of our time. And if through my position I happen to gain access to a few more stunning American landscapes to photograph, all the better.

I hope you will enjoy some of my favorite nature photographs.

Craggy Gardens - Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

This shot of my twin daughters in Craggy Gardens reminds me of that feeling of exhilaration, discovery and abandon I always feel when setting off down a new trail. The rhododendron tunnels of the Blue Ridge Mountains accentuate the adventure and mystery of the path.