The Moments That Stay With Us

Why I created The Silent Wild

I went to a local recreation area one morning to photograph blue herons at sunrise. I sat down on the bank of the lake, taking in the blue hour and watching for the birds.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of brown below me. When I looked down, a mink was staring back at me.

For a few moments, we seemed equally curious about each other. I managed to capture a photograph before it disappeared into the reeds, but that brief encounter was what stayed with me.

That photograph, which I titled A Pause in the Reeds, is still one of my favorites.

It captures something I find difficult to explain about spending time in nature. You can go out with a plan, looking for a particular bird or waiting for the right light, and come home thinking about an encounter you never expected.

Those moments are what led me to create The Silent Wild.

Where it began

I grew up in rural Missouri, surrounded by acreage, forests, and wildlife. My family had a small farm for several years, and much of my childhood was spent outside exploring the woods and wild spaces around me.

That love of the outdoors has always been part of my life. So has photography. I’ve always wanted to capture moments I might never experience again, to hold on to something of what it felt like to be there.

As an adult, spending time outdoors took on another meaning. It became a way to step away from the grind of corporate life and the constant pull of technology. A chance to disconnect, reset, and recharge.

When I’m outside, my attention changes. I notice the sounds around me, the smell of the air, and the way light moves across a landscape. I can lose track of time watching an animal interact with its surroundings.

I come home calmer, more grounded, and better able to put the demands of everyday life into perspective.

Paying attention

I’ve found that feeling in many places.

Hiking along Moose Ponds Trail in Grand Teton National Park, I came across a bull, cow, and calf moose wading through a pond and feeding. I watched for what felt like hours. Seeing them move through their surroundings held my attention completely, and I could see that same wonder in the other people watching.

Sometimes it’s a vista that stops me in my tracks, or the way the light falls on a lone saguaro. Sometimes it’s a hawk overhead, and a photograph that reveals it carrying prey I hadn’t noticed when I pressed the shutter.

And sometimes it’s a mink appearing beside a lake close to home.

I love those moments of discovery. They remind me how much is happening around us, whether we take the time to notice or not.

Through photography, I want to share that sense of awe. I hope someone looking at an image feels curious about the animal, its surroundings, and the life continuing beyond the frame.

What The Silent Wild means to me

The name reflects the peace I find in nature and the wildlife whose stories I want to help tell.

There is a sense of calm that comes from sitting quietly and observing with intent. Taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. Giving myself enough time to notice something I might otherwise walk past.

The animals I photograph are living their lives in places they depend on. Spending time watching them has made me care more deeply about what happens to those places.

That concern has led me to learn more, support conservation, and speak up about decisions affecting wildlife and public lands. Places such as Bears Ears, Grand Staircase–Escalante, and Big Bend matter to me, even from a distance. I want us to think carefully about their future and what our choices mean for the life they support.

Through The Silent Wild, I want to share the connection behind that concern. My hope is that my photography helps give a voice to those that cannot speak and shows why wildlife and the places they call home deserve our protection.

An invitation to come along

You don’t have to travel to a national park to find something that stays with you.

A local park, nature preserve, or quiet stretch of shoreline can give you room to step away from work and the constant bombardment of technology. You can sit for a while, listen, and see what begins to catch your attention.

Give wildlife space. Be respectful of the places you visit. Allow yourself time to watch without needing anything in particular to happen.

I went to the lake that morning looking for herons. I left with a photograph of a mink and the memory of a few seconds of shared curiosity.

That is what I want to share here. Through Field Notes, I’ll bring you along on my adventures, share the stories behind my photographs, and reflect on what I’m learning along the way.

I invite you to explore my portfolio, browse my online store, and spend some time with the images that speak to you. Perhaps one will remind you of somewhere you love, or inspire you to step outside and experience something new.

Most of all, I hope you’ll follow along and find your own connection to the wildlife and wild places around us. The Silent Wild is my way of sharing that connection, encouraging their protection, and giving a voice to those that cannot speak.