I boastfully say a Photographer/Explorer’s life is often “A hero’s journey”…

I think people love landscape photography, because we all yearn to capture freedom, peace, & quiet at a whim. When you stare at a good landscape photo, it makes you feel almost like you captured lightning in a bottle. You are the master of that moment, and the seemingly endless chaos of reality does not, and cannot, control you anymore. The noise of chatter in your mind, the stress, the worry, the ghosts of your past, and the concern for the future, all fall prey to serenity.

“I want peace and quiet, and no one is going to stop me from having it when I’m here!”

Unfortunately, we can’t always be where we want to be physically. This is where your friendly neighborhood photographer comes in handy!

When I was a fat little boy, one of the things I looked forward to the most on Saturday mornings (besides my mother’s eggs and sausage for breakfast) was sitting on my butt, watching ‘Dragon Ball Z’ & ‘Power Rangers’. I would watch National Geographic Explorer after cartoons, and I imagined the life of a world famous photographer seeing a beautiful grass-filled hilltop over a sunset valley. I would be at the top of this hill staring off into the endless chasm of beauty, as nature’s breeze kiss gave my fat cheeks a lot of love! (Love that I felt sorely needed, a story for another day).

I would grab…

A strong walking stick — “Why, just in case there was a sinkhole somewhere, look before you leap & all that jazz!”

Batteries — “If I found a cave somewhere, I could shine a light on those cave drawings!” 

Snacks & water— “Hey man, if the cave walls fell, & trapped me, a brother gotta eat!”

Off I would go, for at least 6 hours, into the woods of the beautiful island of St. Lucia on my own. Looking to discover lands never seen before; like the small creek behind the farmer’s house, and the large sand dune on the beach, which was only a couple miles from my home. Oh!...And how about that amazing mango tree next to the river, that looked like an old man sitting? It didn't matter where I went, I was free, and no one could take my joy from me at that moment.

I never found any caves, but after at least 4-6 hours, I would come home dirty, exhausted, and tired. However, I always discovered something new about my environment, and myself. I didn’t have a camera back then, but I had captured those moments forever in my memory. I was my own hero for staying out that long, and I was going to share that beauty with the world.

A hero’s journey…

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Cinematic Vlog of 100 Miles to the Sun!