I grew up in Palo Alto, California, and purchased my first camera at age 12. I first explored Yosemite when I was 17, and while attending college, I led backpacking trips and began rock climbing. Eventually, I moved to El Portal, a small park community on the Merced River, where I met my wife, Mara. There, I taught environmental education and spent 20 years as a classroom teacher. When not teaching, we enjoyed backpacking, skiing, and exploring the wilderness. After 25 years in the park, we moved to Portland, Oregon. I have also assisted with photography workshops, led camera walks, and worked as a photo guide for the Ansel Adams Gallery. I hold a BS in Biology and Geography from Sonoma State University and an MS in Biology from Idaho State University, where I studied postfire lodgepole pine communities and science education.