My mom, who was a professional photographer in the 50's and 60's (she died in '68), gave me my first camera when I was 12. I went to the Seattle Art Institute in 1993 in portrait and event photography after deciding I wanted to take it further than snapshots. I resisted digital for a long time, but now I love the instant gratification and easy deletion aspect of it. I still like the challenge of making it happen through the viewfinder, but plan on learning more about the digital world. I shoot mostly with a Nikon D70 and dream of upgrading, but have a little Leica that goes everywhere with me. I don't do much digital manipulation--mostly just what I would have done in the dark room or with the spotting brush, but I can appreciate what photoshopping offers. I love the way photography has taught me to view the world. I enjoy seeing the things that get overlooked by most people. I like to keep my work varied, just shooting what I see. I volunteer at my local animal shelter, which allows me to combine my main passions--photography and animals.