About

Short Bio

My photography is about my vision, not my tools. Primarily medium/large format film I print and prepare my work in-studio.

Statement

The art of photography has little to do with the technology of cameras, lenses, film type or megapixels. Rather, how we see and use our ‘tools’. Choosing what is to be included in composition and understanding weather and lighting effects on colors and shadows. As the naturalist Joseph Wood Krutch said: “The rare moment is not the moment there is something worth looking at, but the moment we are capable of seeing it.” How true!

My landscape images are taken using medium and large format film cameras, macrophotography now done mostly with digital capture and image stacking (e.g., multiple exposures). I scan my film, print in-studio on a 44” HP printer, mount and frame also print and stretch canvases – all work done by me in-studio. Editions are 150 and 250, all sizes and presentations inclusive.

Biography

I began photographing in the 4th grade ..... a few years ago!  Starting with a cheap inexpensive camera from my folks, sort of state-of-the-art at the time, it opened a door of discovery in me, both within me and the world I viewed and lived-in.  It has been amazing. 

I am formally trained and have worked for over 24 years as a wildlife ecologist/biologist with various organization.  Initially with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, followed by three full-time positions with environmental consulting firms.  As I was 'discovered' I was offered jobs that were hard to turn down.  I worked these until 1998 when I left to do photography and juried art shows full-time.  Loved being a biologist - just was impossible to do both that and the art shows.  And I wished to see how the art show would go.

Resume / CV

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Colorado State University, earned in 1977.  Subsequently earned my Master of Science degree from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas in 1982.  Was hired for seasonal biology jobs by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from 1975 thru 1982.  Full-time positions with environmental consulting firms from 1983 thru 1998 designing studies and supervising field crews on pesticide studies and hazardous waste sites.

As to photography, I am self-taught.  One class on darkroom printing of black-and-white.  The rest is self-learned from all the years since 4th grade exploring and learning. Originally all film (110 and 35-mm).  'DIscovered' large format cameras in 1987 and have never looked back.  Have had my work in stock agencies since 1983, being promoted worldwide.  Won approximately 85 awards in juried art shows to date from Best of Show awards to Best of Photography awards to Merit and Patron awards.

Website to see all my imagery and presentation types from photographs matted, framed and gallery-wrap canvas custom-sized to your spaces, to screen savers for computers and cellphones to posters (images and quotes):  www.natgal.zenfolio.com