Hometown: Dodd City, Texas although I have lived in Childress, Texas for the past fifteen years.

In the beginning…: I got started when I was about nineteen by just shooting lots of film and practicing all of the time. My brother gave me a hand-me-down Vivitar camera and within a year and a half, I had published my first images!

Inspiration: Wow. I have several inspirations, like Texas photographers Wyman Meinzer and David Sams. Mitch Kezar is also one whose work I find inspiring, as well as my parents.

Known for: Texas people, landscapes, and wildlife. Outdoor lifestyle shots.

Eureka Moment: My eureka moment came when it finally made sense to me to start telling stories with photos and I learned to document not only the main action of a story but also the details and “atmosphere” of the scene.

Current Obsession: Anything having to do with digital video, digital photography, and Mac computers.

Favorite camera/equipment: My ultra-cool Canon 1d Mark III and my 85mm f1.2 lens.

I can’t live without my…: Pelican 1620 case, as it is super dusty where I live in the Texas Panhandle.

Critics are like…: …your best friend for getting better. No matter how harsh the criticism, if it has merit, I always try to swallow my pride and move forward and try to make my work better.

Studio soundtrack/theme song: Lots of George Strait and anything else that captures that cool Texas vibe. I love artists like Stoney LaRue, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson, and Randy Rogers Band. As a strange departure from my normal music, I think Elton John rules!

Next project: Besides shooting pictures of everything I see, I hope to begin working on a new coffee table book about cool places to see in Texas.

Other passions: Playing with my kids and sharing the natural world with them. Hanging out with my wife, Kristy, and spending quality time with my friends and family. Oh yeah, I also love playing the guitar.

Personal motto: Keep on keepin’ on

Pet peeve: People who doubt what they are really capable of accomplishing.

Proudest moment(s): Whenever my kids tell me they love me, and seeing my dad tear up when I became the first college graduate in my family.

Recent exhibit: The Texas Rolling Plains in Pictures

What I’d be if I weren’t an author/photographer: Either a documentary filmmaker or, maybe, a rock star if the film thing didn’t work out. I would kind of like to be a celebrity chef as well.

Words of advice: No matter what you do, just keep your head in the game and learn all you can about your craft, and be proud of yourself whenever you achieve your goals or fall short of them despite a valiant effort.