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I was raised in a farming community in southern Iowa, graduating
from Chariton High School. I spent 3 years at the University of Iowa (the Hawkeyes) and then went to Illinois College
of Optometry in Chicago. I graduated in 1968 and spent the next 16 months working for a world-renowned contact
lens practice. In 1967 I married Sheryl Cochran; we lived in a Chicago suburb during our 2+ years in the big city. We enjoyed
many aspects of a major metropolitan area, but we both were glad to leave for Fergus Falls.
During my time with Jessen-Wesley contact lens practice I worked
with a fellow optometrist who was a serious amateur photographer. He piqued my interest and before we left
Chicago I had purchased my first SLR a
Canon TLx. This was a tough camera that took great photos; Ive used Canon ever since.
We moved to Fergus Falls in September 1969, just in time to acclimate
to Minnesota winters. During the next several years I photographed mostly family and our travels. I enjoyed my photography but did not really
worry too much about tack sharp focus (I rarely used a tripod) nor did I understand how critical the exposure was
with transparency film I had
a lot of under and over exposures. It was many years before someone told me about gray cards, adding f-stops for snow scenes
etc. But
I enjoyed the camera work and spent time photographing flowers and wildlife. On our family vacations I shot more than
the typical scenics lots of
mountains, waterfalls, lakes and rivers.
By the 1980s I was becoming more serious about photography and
was making an effort to make my shots more professional. In the late 80s Gary and I became acquainted and
arranged to take a one-day photo shoot at a national conference in New Orleans. This further sparked my interest in more
quality photography (Gary is a great teacher). Gary and I hit it off and we have become great friends. Since that first photo shoot we have taken
several photo trips initially
close to home but gradually longer and farther afield. Though the years we have canoed in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (we capsized once, but
avoided the bear we saw) backpacked
in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Gary missed stepping on a rattle snake by about an inch) backpacked in the Beartooth Range of Montana (it rained
every day; quitting only when the
mosquitoes came out); some really great trips. Did I mention the slot canyons of southern Utah
we learned our first amateur climbing skills on that trip & I wore holes
on both sides of my camera bag walking through the narrow slots.
Our older son, Tom, lives in Alaska with his wife Pam and two
daughters, Ella & Claire. Our granddaughters are, of course, the most beautiful and intelligent children of all time! This provides
us with a great excuse to travel to very scenic Alaska particularly Denali National Park and the Kenai Peninsula. Weve had several great trips to Alaska. Our younger
son, Chad, moved to Florida in 2003 now
we have a good excuse to travel south! We are still getting acquainted with the photo opportunities of western Florida but plan
on more trips through the years. We describe our family as cant be farther apart and still be in the US!
Sheryl and I also enjoy traveling and we take many photos now
that we can spend more time on our trips and arent spending so much travel time keeping the kids entertained. In addition to
Alaska and Florida Sheryl and I enjoy Mexico in the winter, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Acadia National Park,
the entire east coast from Maryland to Maine and the mountains and national parks of Montana and the northwest. We also
like travel in Canada, particularly the Maritime Provinces and the parks of Alberta & British Columbia. One of our favorite
trips in right here in Minnesota the
north shore of Lake Superior. We make it to the north shore at least once a year and often two or three times. We live
on a great continent for travel and photography!
Gary and I now take a trip every year, typically for 7-10 days
and in the fall. In addition to the trips Ive already mentioned we have been to Ouray, Colorado for fall colors and
to Yellowstone and Zion National Parks. Individually weve been to even more locations: Yosemite, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley
etc. In
the fall of 2003, while photographing near Ouray, we started to formulate the tentative idea of these photo tours. Over the
next few months we developed the two-part program: the CDs for you to purchase to plan your trips and leading photo trips to some of the parks
we have enjoyed.
I mentioned earlier that I shoot Canon; currently I am using the
Élan. I
am still using film I am partial
to Velvia and use Kodak E film when I need higher speed. I will likely make the jump to digital in the next couple
of years. I
use Photoshop with my home computer to print slides I have scanned. I tweak them some, but basically feel that you
need a good slide to make a good print. I have a 100-300 telephoto and a 20mm wide angle. The lens on my Élan body is the 35-135
zoom a great lens that Canon
no longer makes. I do have a point and shoot Nikon 3100 digital that Sheryl and I both like
a great camera for family trips and family gatherings.
I have attached a couple of photos from some of our trips as well
as some general photos. I have photo note cards for sale ($3.50 each or 5 for $15.00
plus postage). With a little time I can print a photo up to 13 x 19 and arrange to ship it cost varies with the photo. My most typical photos are scenic, some wildlife and some close ups of flowers.
We would be glad to hear any comments you might have. If
you have purchased a CD and feel a comment is appropriate, please email us. If you would like us to
lead a trip to a location that we have described just let and know and we will start working on it we assume
it will take a few months to a year to get a trip together.
Thanks for checking out our site. Happy shooting!
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