I said, Mom, lets go!
I began in photography when I was 14 years old and I had a paper route in Southern California.
I could hear the fire department being dispatched to potential newsworthy events.
One summer morning I heard about a car struck by a train.
I said, Mom, lets go!
I was too young to drive so we hopped into our Ford Pinto and off we went.
The car had stalled on the tracks and the driver jumped out at the last minute and was okay.
I shot the spectacular car wreckage and dropped the film off at the local paper.
Right there on the cover was my photo, and I delivered every copy of the newspaper with pride.
Take us through a recent work day.
My workday varies if Im in the field or back at Headquarters in Washington, DC.
What apps, gadgets, or tools cant you live without?
Its invaluable when shooting outside.
I also love TPE (The Photographers Ephemeris).
It shows the path of the sun and moon at any given date/time for your location.
Its handy when planning a shot to see where the sun/moon will set and rise.
Whats your workspace setup like?
I shoot toCapture Oneso I can see it on the big screen.
I use the same setup when shooting artifacts in the field but I tether to a MacBook Pro.
Whats your favorite shortcut or hack?
Sometimes Im in a situation where I need quick feedback from my photo editor back at headquarters.
Its redundant taking a picture of a picture, but it works quite well in the right situation.
Its redundant taking a picture of a picture, but it works quite well in the right situation.
Take us through an interesting, unusual, or finicky process you have in place at work.
And Im often sleeping in my rented SUV.
They are cheap, plush, and comfortable enough for a good nights rest.
Our photo editors at National Geographic are top notch.
They will tell you exactly what they think.
Thats what I want, honest feedback.
How do you keep track of what you have to do?
My calendar is everything.
It keeps track of all my shoot locations and contact info related to that shoot.
How do you recharge or take a break?
I can listen to music and zone out as I work out.
Such a great way to start the day.
Whats your favorite side project?
Four years ago I became a beekeeper.
I find it extremely rewarding.
People expect I have all these awesome pictures of honeybees but I dont.
I want to focus on being a great beekeeper and not be distracted by photography.
What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?
The Righteous Mindby Jonathan Haidt.
Its about understanding why people on opposite ends of the political spectrum feel the way they do.
You will understand why you hold the moral beliefs you do and why others disagree with you.
Can you share a music playlist youve made, for working or elsewhere?
My guilty pleasure is 60s and 70s poppy music like Abba and the Archies.
Im embarrassed to share this playlist with you:Marks Gym Pop.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
An airtanker pilot who fights fires.
A downtown heavy lift crane operator.
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Whatever you do, do it the best it’s possible for you to.
Whats a problem youre still trying to solve?
How to find things that fall between the car seat and the center console.
