I started taking pictures when I was a teen, with my father's Minolta 35mm SLR. I'd always liked being outside, so it was no surprise when the first time he gave it to me to use for a day, I wandered around a nature preserve and chose birds as my subjects. I've enjoyed photography since, but kept it as just a hobby for many years. In the not-so-distant past, friends and family began hinting that I should sell my photos. I'm still a hobbyist photographer, and an amateur at that - but I take my camera on every hike, bike, nature walk, and slow-water paddle I go...more
