CURRENT MISSION

To photograph Eruope for the first time...

ABOUT ME

huh, these are always tricky: please sum yourself up in a few quick paragraphs...
Completed high school w/ credits earned while learning to train exotic cats & traveling throughout Asia, E. Africa, and the Middle East, respectively.

It's been 10 years since that trip; I've got the itch & resources to sate that travel bug gnawing on my psyche- so, I'm off to Europe!

I have spent the last several years as an Americorp member working for The Columbia Gorge Ecology Insitute. CGEI is a non-profit located in Hood River OR, the primary program is an 8 week, 5th grade, forest ecology program that is offered & taught all over the Columbia Gorge area.

I've been studying photography for close to 10 years now; the act & art are the closest things to my heart. One of my interests in photography is to document human/animal interaction- this grew as a result of working w/ countless species over the years, and watching how every human/animal combination offers a different opportunity.

I spend most of my time taking photgraphs, road-tripping, editing photos, & working at a coffee shop to pay the bills.

The things I care about most: my family; my dog, 2 cats, & sugar glider; the projects needed to keep an 1892 house livable; carniverous plants; driving; kayaking; renovating old furniture; and, of course my camera

PHILOSOPHY

smiles are contagious; louder volume does NOT equal understanding (philosophy on America(ns) in general); question why & what; always check your lighting

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

not sure yet... just got on here! I'm going to be traveling in Europe Aug 1st through Nov. 26; would love to find some couches to surf; am also very interested in the possibility of photographing 2 subjects:
1) recording couch surfing journeys for promotional material for the CS website/ NFP
2) Would love to take a "Day in the Life Series"; I'll be traveling in Europe for 4 months, would love to have a collection of photos of a person's day in their life (ie stay w/ someone in Prague- photograph them as much as they are comfortable w/ for 1 day), as many as possible in as many places as possible...! does any of that make sense?

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Couchsurfing USED to be called homestays; my favorite homestay was unplanned, outside of Banue Phillippines, a friend and i stayed w/ a silver smith and his family for a night- they were fantastic, open, giving, people. They fed us delicious food, and the silver smith taught us how to make a charm in the shape of a local symbol representing fertility in the rice fields. Spent all evening playing w/ the kids and walking the rice terraces! All in all the perfect couchsurfing experience!

Interests

Photography, animals, the environment, architecture

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• arts
• architecture
• photography
• environment
• dining
• coffee
• walking
• shopping
• traveling
• kayaking
• surfing
• hang gliding
• ecology

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Mos Def, Tom Petty, Beethoven, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Pearl Jam

Books:
any nature guide book, photography books, A Confederacy of Dunces, The Sparrow

Movies:
Kill Bill 1&2, Indiana Jones series, Snatch, Star Wars series (first 3), What Dreams May Come

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Today

Teach, Learn, Share

Share: photography, nature/ ecology, animal training
Want to learn: underwater photography, hang gliding