Left: me as a child holding my first ever camera, out for an adventure and a full day of learning the trade (photo by Karen Terry).
Above: My aunt (green beanie) and I (far left with braid) were able to get out on a boat together in snowy conditions so she could see all I do with SBB, and of course that meant we both had our cameras with us. Photo credits to Debbie Tobin (thank you again Debbie for inviting my family along!!!)
Above: A self-stitched panorama of five images of the Sleeping Lady. This is a typical February evening view from Anchorage.
Right: Being short never stopped me from getting the shots I wanted (photo by Karen Terry). I've grown lots (in photography skills... not so much height-wise haha).
Left: A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) crosses a trail on University of Alaska Anchorage campus in November snow. A shot of this fox won me a free parking pass when I submitted it for UAA's annual photo competition! Every main campus sticker had my picture in its windshield for the 2024/2025 school year.
My complete gear list includes
2015/2016 Canon EOS (Electro-Optical System, mirrorless) Rebel SL1 body
Canon zoom lens EF 75-300mm (1:4-5.6)
Canon macro lens EF-S 60mm (1:2.8) USM
Canon lens EF 50mm (1:1.8) STM
Canon lens EFS 18-55mm image stabilizer
a polarized UV protective filter cap for each of the lens above, to prevent damage
Olympus Tough TG-6 Digital Camera
Nikon Coolpix S6500 16.0MP 12x Optical Zoom
LowerPro Adventura Sh 140 li bag
Apple photo editing software and free online options, including BeFunky.com and photopea.com to adjust exposure, crop, blend photos into a fluid panorama, etc.
Hair ties and snacks, just in case :)
Right: I absolutely love photobombers. I think the best pictures come from the unexpected visit of a friend in my frame. Whether that's a turtle above my head, a moose on the drive to school, or this golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon. I took this around age 15.
Left: If I had the option to live underwater, I 100% would. If I am accepted at a university to work towards a master's degree in aquatic science, know this was purely my excuse to spend more time in and around the water.
Right: These diving pictures and this flower image were shot in Maui, Hawaii. This is an Egyptian lotus I believe (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea) although identifying it was extremely tricky for me, and it could also be some other type of water lily.
Left: My aunt has the ability to turn a casual moment into something momental and lasting. Looking back on this picture, when I was 8 years old, I see the foundations of curiosity building into what would someday become my passion for environmental science fieldwork. Thank you so much, Auntie, for looking through your lens with love and teaching me to do the same, no matter the subject <3