I have always been a lover of the outdoors. It is where I feel most at home, and I jump at any chance to engage with nature.
Over the last 3 years I have taken up kayaking, which has been on my To-Do list for quite some time. With more time on my hands and the necessity to get creative with activities outside of the house, the stars finally aligned.
When embarking on a kayak, I am constantly presented with a new view of the surroundings I'd taken for granted. Even my first outing on Putah Creek (which those who live in the Sacramento, Yolo, or Solano area know is no source of great excitement) left me invigorated, inspired, and unable to move my arms for the next day.
I have since explored small lakes near Lake Tahoe, bays along the California Coast, and the Russian River, and even kayak camped in Tomales Bay. I've encountered seals, otters, jelly fish, pelicans, and more in a close proximity that I never considered available to me (while still being respectful of their space).
Maybe most importantly, I've learned to also enjoy putting the camera away to enjoy the relationship of my mind, my body, and the earth without any go-between. In my passion for sharing the world's beauty with others, hindsight often reveals that I experience more through the lens than I do through the rest of my senses. I am so happy to share these images with you, and I am equally content to enjoy the memories that I only made for myself.
I encourage you to experience this too. Let's go on an outing together, share a beer out on the water, and experience our beautiful planet at sea level.
(just a note: These photographs were taken on a variety of cameras, including but not limited to an older Nikon d5000, a GoPro, and an iPhone. I'm a little too nervous to take my main pro camera out on the water!)
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