About Zach

 

In 1993, my father and I journeyed “out west” on what would become a nearly three week road trip. We had planned specific stops at locations such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, but the beauty of road trips in those days is that there was, by necessity, incredible amounts of spontaneity. 

Leading up to the trip, I remember traveling an hour to the nearest mall to visit Wolf Camera. Dad purchased a Canon camera (film, of course!), and an accompanying 75-300mm lens. I actually still have the receipt from that purchase somewhere… 

Anyway, early on in the trip, I became the official photographer for our expedition. Looking back, I’m a tad surprised dad trusted me with such an expensive piece of equipment, but I think he must have seen that I truly enjoyed it. It is hard to remember the necessity of being frugal with the shutter… Nowadays I can shoot 30 frames per second, but at the time, that was more shots than a roll of film could hold!

Each time I reflect on some of the shots I captured, I can see that I had a natural inclination for strong compositions. I suspect this is thanks to my mother, a lifelong fine artist (watercolors and oils). 

I didn’t get many opportunities for nature photography beyond that point, not until I was an adult. In the late 2000s, I saved and purchased my first DSLR, a Nikon D5000. It was low on the “prosumer” end of the spectrum, but a fantastic starting point. I started out with landscapes, as I just couldn’t afford the lenses needed to capture high quality wildlife images. Eventually, I needed cash more than the gear, and I sold my Nikon gear. 

Fast forward to the late 2010s, and suddenly I caught the bug again–I was enamored with photography, and I wanted to jump back in head-first. At this time, Sony was pioneering the mirrorless movement, and I could see this was the future. Since I owned no lenses or gear to influence my purchasing decisions, I started fresh with Sony, and I haven’t looked back. I’ve gradually upgraded and expanded my arsenal over the years.

Today, I primarily focus on wildlife, but when I see a nice scene I will certainly be glad to capture a beautiful landscape. I enjoy constantly rediscovering that of all the creatures God has created, they are all unique. No two hunt the same way, eat the same way, or behave the same. Observing and learning their differences motivates me each day when I head out before sunrise. Literally every single moment I spend outdoors I learn something new, and that never gets old. 

I capture what interests me. I don’t chase fads or trends or likes. Some of my favorite photographs rank among my lowest in terms of social media engagement, but that’s fine with me. Each image tells a story, and I can remember the setting and moment of every single photograph in my gallery. 

If you find something that you feel a shared connection to, I’d be honored if you added it to your personal collection and displayed it in your home or office. I can help you select the appropriate size and medium for your setting.

Thank you for visiting my gallery and for taking a few moments to learn about me. I hope to see you out there!