accent-george

My Photographic Adventures Began at Oxford College of Emory, Near Atlanta.

I started my journey by taking photos for the yearbook, newspaper, and the school administration. I was visited by a spirit and asked to be his official photographer. No, really, I was! The spirit’s name is Dooley and he is a skeleton and the unofficial mascot of Emory. I captured his spooky essence at his various appearances around campus. During my years at Oxford, I learned essential techniques, including developing negatives and printing quality black and whites.

I spent many hours in the malodorous darkroom, waiting for dripping negatives and soggy paper prints to dry for hours as I worried about quickly approaching deadlines. Modern scans of my still-pristine Kodachrome color slide film are featured on my site.

During these formative years, I was incredibly inspired by North Georgia fall colors. After graduation, I took several trips out west which kickstarted my affinity for nature shots. My trusty camera and I traveled the nation canoeing, snow skiing, hiking, and capturing car shows and races. Some favorite spots include my parents’ dock and roof, Bok Tower, Circle B, and many National Parks. On trips, I was often the last one back to the car as I was always snapping one final shot.

My First Real Camera Was a Nikkormat FT3.

The smaller, lighter, faster and a bit more automated Olympus OM2S replaced the Nikkormat in the mid-‘80s. Then, the world turned to digital which involved a huge learning curve. The biggest trouble spot was post processing with primitive and sluggish computers. A Nikon D90 was my first foray into the digital realm. Currently, I use a Nikon D7200. My sharpest lens (ancient, but trustworthy!) is a Nikkor 105 Macro.

While I occasionally use tripods, my stubborn self hates carrying around gear so I’ve gotten creative. Numerous photos here were taken using the car roof, rocks, trees or railings in lieu of a tripod. Most of the digital shots were taken with a Nikkor 18-200 zoom, a real workhorse piece of glass. A couple recent shots (buffalo with coyote, bald eagle, herons) were shot using a monopod with either a Nikkor 70-300 or Tamron 100-400 shot in RAW. Of course, some are shot on my iPhone!

I’ve Been Blessed to Be Mentored by Talented, Wonderful People Throughout My Life.

My mom was a fantastic technical and artistic photographer. Paul Crate gave me tons of insightful advice and taught me how to shoot astronomical events. In Yellowstone, I reconnected with Paul Thibodeaux, formerly of Winter Haven, when he ran the photo concession at Fishing Bridge on Lake Yellowstone. He provided invaluable wisdom on the digital world. Marshall Ledbetter in Auburndale was a fountain of knowledge, and all about “capturing the light”.

Dr. Gary Chappel motivated me to do better wildlife shots, and taught me how to “light paint”. I also have to thank my wife and kids for allowing me to indulge in my hobby. They have handed me lenses, rain gear, dealt with sudden stops, sketchy three point turns, twisty mountain roads, and have waited countless hours to let me get the perfect shot. As Marshall always taught, I have captured the light for you to enjoy!