Intention Statement

I am going through the New Media Journalism Master’s program to build a more serious foundation for my life’s quest to become a career wildlife and conservation photojournalist. Ever since childhood I have been an avid explorer of the wilderness. Now as an adult, I still love exploring and observing the way nature works, especially when it involves animal behavior. Photographing wildlife quickly became an obsession for me the moment I shot my first frame of a Mule Deer in the grassy hills near my home in Calabasas, California. It was with a wide-angle lens and the deer was tiny in the frame. But I was hooked and I desperately needed to get tighter shots to show a more intimate connection within that deer’s world. I saved some money to buy longer lenses and other equipment like camouflage clothing that would help me get closer in order to achieve this goal. I haven’t looked back since that day as I continue to chase elusive animals and attempt to create powerful images of their lives, bringing viewers into that wild environment.

My ambitions, though still grounded in a pursuit of wildlife images, have been altered slightly to use my acquired skills to speak for wildlife and habitat, especially the animals and wild places that are most imperiled. This is a much more narrowly defined field that has become known as conservation photography. This discipline incorporates the use of photos or videos that are often accompanied by research or statements of advocacy for a specific concern. This is the direction I am currently steering my ship. It requires a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work. But the effort has the potential of forming a legacy of conservation efforts that will not only benefit the animals who live within the habitat, but also the generations of people who come after me who will be able to stand in awe and wonder among these places seeing the incredible power nature reveals.

Through the New Media Journalism Master’s program I am hoping to be able to form a more professional journalistic voice to enhance the value of my efforts, delivering high quality photo and video content with a lasting impact. I am also looking forward to potentially learning how to utilize a variety of platforms and emerging technology to cast a wider net and capture a larger audience for my photojournalism and conservation advocacy.