| "Welcome to Canada," Ken shouted to me over the | | | | honorable mention. After that, I decided I was ready |
| roar of the rain and thunder. A constant downpour | | | | for the next level.Then I started to have second |
| kept the photography workshop indoors. We slipped | | | | thoughts. I didn't know anything about mountain |
| out during a break in the clouds, but as soon as we | | | | country, and whenever I mentioned my plan to |
| set up our tripods, a thunderstorm swept in out of | | | | anyone, the response was "You better watch out |
| nowhere and sent us scurrying back down the | | | | for the bears." I was tempted to back out. But, I had |
| mountain trail to our cars. Since I signed on for this | | | | come too far to quit.So, I leafed through the |
| tour of the Canadian Rockies, everything had gone | | | | advertising section of Outdoor Photographer |
| right.It rained sporadically for the first two days of | | | | magazine. I found a photography workshop in Yoho |
| the workshop and we were all a little down. So, Ken | | | | and Banff national parks on the border of British |
| Pugh, our photography instructor and guide, used the | | | | Columbia and Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. I called |
| down time to teach us some nature photography | | | | the number in the ad and signed up for my |
| techniques and camouflage tactics. Those sessions | | | | adventure.I flew to Calgary and caught a bus to |
| helped me a lot since I was a novice nature | | | | reach the designated meeting place. As the bus |
| photographer.When the clouds cleared again, we | | | | wound through the mountains, I was awestruck. It |
| ventured out, and this time the weather held. I | | | | was the first time I had seen mountains in person. |
| believe Ken chased away the bad weather with his | | | | They loomed over everything like emissaries from |
| sunny rendition of Willie Nelson's "Nothin but Blue | | | | heaven, offering enlightenment to anyone willing to |
| Skies," which he sang constantly since the first day | | | | climb their lofty heights. There was no way a |
| of the tour.The days afterwards were a moody mix | | | | photograph could ever capture their glory.A few |
| of sunshine, clouds and drizzle. The colors of the | | | | hours later I reached my destination, a combination |
| surrounding scenery were intensified from the rain | | | | restaurant, gas station and motel located at the foot |
| and overcast skies. When the sun popped out from | | | | of a mountain range with no other sign of civilization |
| behind the clouds, the light was soft and delicate. It | | | | in sight. When I walked into the restaurant, it seemed |
| was a great time to photograph the majestic | | | | everything stopped and all eyes were on me. I |
| mountains and forests.My adventure in the Canadian | | | | paused near the doorway, scanning the room for |
| Rockies started years earlier, on my grandparents' | | | | anyone with a camera.Then, I heard someone call my |
| farm in Michigan, where my sisters and I spent our | | | | name. I turned and saw a burly looking guy, wearing |
| summer vacations. It was there that I developed an | | | | a denim jacket and sporting a thick black beard. He |
| appreciation for nature. As a teenager, I caught the | | | | was waving me over to a table where six or seven |
| photography bug, and a few years later, I started | | | | people were gathered. I walked over and he stuck |
| photographing nature.Whenever I got the chance, I'd | | | | out his hand and said, "Hi, I'm Ken." I guessed he |
| photograph the scenery in the city parks of my | | | | recognized me because I was the only black person |
| neighborhood. After a while, those manicured | | | | on the tour. It was either that or my gear.Except for |
| landscapes bored me; I dreamed of photographing | | | | me, everyone on the tour was Canadian. One guy |
| mountains and deserts, the places I saw in | | | | was from Nova Scotia. I had just a vague idea of |
| photography magazines. But, I let that dream die | | | | where that was. Listening to the voices around me, I |
| away. I decided that since I lived in Chicago, pursuing | | | | realized I was the one with an accent. I had made it |
| a career as a nature photographer didn't make much | | | | to the edge of the world.After a hard day of |
| sense.But dreams are hard to kill, they wait for the | | | | trekking through the Canadian wilderness, we |
| right moment to rise and haunt you again. In my | | | | gathered for diner and talked long into the evening. |
| case, that moment came about seven years later. I | | | | During those times, we got to know one another, |
| was at a time in my life when I wanted to do | | | | and I learned more about Canada than I ever wanted |
| something adventurous. I thought about trying nature | | | | to know. But, those conversations broadened my |
| photography, but I couldn't see how to make it | | | | perspective of the world, and I learned about myself. |
| happen.Then I came across a copy of "Mountain | | | | It was a great experience hanging out with |
| Light," a coffee-table book of nature photography by | | | | everyone.A few weeks after I returned home, I |
| the late Galen Rowell. Rowell's work featured the | | | | received letters from two members of the group |
| exotic light and perspective of images taken at the | | | | where they expressed how much they enjoyed my |
| edges of the world, high up in the mountains.But, | | | | company.So I had reached my goal and |
| what caught my attention was that he was an | | | | photographed the mountains. For awhile, I searched |
| ex-car mechanic and self--taught photographer. | | | | for a way to turn my passion into a part-time |
| Rowell, who was also a world--class rock climber, | | | | business. I did some shooting on vacations, and |
| started taking pictures to share his adventures. He | | | | mounted a few exhibitions of my work. The highlight |
| took chances to realize his vision, and today his | | | | of my career was when the Museum of Science and |
| images are world--renowned for their magical | | | | Industry in Chicago selected one of my photographs |
| qualities.Rowell's story and work inspired me. So I | | | | for its annual art show.The recognition was great, but |
| dusted off my camera and set an audacious goal. I | | | | I managed to sell only a few photographs, which was |
| decided to visit some of the landscapes Rowell had | | | | disappointing. Gradually, I came to realize that when |
| photographed.I took a small first step. I went to the | | | | you follow a dream, money might not be the best |
| bookstore and bought a couple of books on nature | | | | measure your success. I see now that genuine |
| photography. I studied John Shaw's, "Complete Guide | | | | success corresponds to personal growth.And in that |
| to Nature Photography Field Techniques." Once I | | | | department, I've been a rousing success. I've seen |
| learned the basics, I set out to get some | | | | some of the beauty of the North American continent. |
| practice.The problem was I lived in Chicago, a place | | | | I've met and connected with people from far away |
| not known for its natural beauty. The closest natural | | | | places, and learned we're all more or less the same. |
| wilderness to Chicago is the Indiana Dunes. So, that's | | | | Above all, I've learned that "the bears" weren't lurking |
| where I went.The trips were worth the effort. I | | | | in the forest waiting to get me, and I had nothing |
| entered one of the photographs I took at the Dunes | | | | fear. The adventure has been "Nothing but Blue Skies. |
| into a local photography club contest and won an | | | | |