Success starts with volunteering
Numerous times I have been asked by aspiring photographers to help them get started selling their photos. I often feel that they think I took some photos, had them printed and was an instant success. In my future blog posts, I hope to recount how over time my road to a successful photographic art career was started.
After moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Houston, Texas to follow my dream of becoming a collegiate coach, I discovered the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. I was infatuated with the topography of red sandstone boulders and rugged, colorful mountains. During my Track and Field coaching tenure we would load up the athletes in an UNLV van and go out for distance training along Red Rock’s 13 mile loop. The scenery was so awesome and the higher elevation was slightly cooler than urban streets.
After moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Houston, Texas to follow my dream of becoming a collegiate coach, I discovered the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. I was infatuated with the topography of red sandstone boulders and rugged, colorful mountains. During my Track and Field coaching tenure we would load up the athletes in an UNLV van and go out for distance training along Red Rock’s 13 mile loop. The scenery was so awesome and the higher elevation was slightly cooler than urban streets.
I retired from my profession of teaching and coaching to follow my new dream of working fulltime in the photographic arts. This allowed me to spend much more time exploring the Red Rock Canyon area. Looking back, I was as fascinated with the art of Red Rock Canyon as was Ansel Adams of Yosemite.
From sunrise to sunset and even after darkness fell across the desert, I was fueled by the passion to record each inspiring moment in this awesome work of nature.
One afternoon I was at Pine Creek Trail when I met a law enforcement ranger and he started quizzing me on my new Nikon 8008s film camera.
To keep a long story brief, the ranger took an interest in how I was taking photographs and eventually invited me to join the volunteer program to assist the BLM Rangers.
As an official Red Rock Volunteer, my duties included inspecting hiking trails for damage or trash removal; plus acting as a hostess to the multitude of visitors, giving directions and general information about hiking and exploring in the Red Rock Canyon.
Working in this official capacity allowed for new opportunities that I might not have experienced otherwise. It was a responsibility that I embraced.
Furthermore, by giving of my time to others I was blessed with experience and learning opportunities that would help to mold my identity as a photographic artist. Of all the photography books that I read and studied, the working relationship of being a volunteer gave me hands-on experience. I was introduced to people from all nationalities which furthered my skills to communicate to others about my love of nature and photography.
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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
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