🪶 TL;DR: Law enforcement burnout survivor turned wildlife photographer. Still chasing calm — just with better scenery.
Before I ever picked up a camera, I spent a decade behind a radio and a badge.
I began my career in law enforcement at 18, moving between Corrections and Dispatch — two worlds that demanded precision, calm, and determination. I loved law enforcement with everything I had. It wasn’t just a job; I was the thin gold line — the calm voice in the dark — and I took pride in that.
I began my career in law enforcement at 18, moving between Corrections and Dispatch — two worlds that demanded precision, calm, and determination. I loved law enforcement with everything I had. It wasn’t just a job; I was the thin gold line — the calm voice in the dark — and I took pride in that.
During the height of COVID, I was the only fully trained Dispatch/Corrections officer in a six-person department (small-town life), working back-to-back 12-hour shifts for weeks on end. I pushed through exhaustion, burnout, and chaos because that’s what the job required. But over time, the toll on my mental health made the decision for me — I was forced to step away from the career I’d built my life around.
After taking time to find myself again, photography became my path forward. The same focus, patience, and sense of duty that once kept me grounded behind a console now guide me behind the lens. On Mitkof Island in Southeast Alaska, I’ve traded radio static for the sound of eagles and tide — finding peace in the wild beauty that surrounds me.
Through my camera, I capture the balance I once fought to find: the calm and the wild, the fleeting and the eternal. My goal is to share the wonder of Alaska through authentic, high-quality photography that inspires connection with nature and appreciation for life’s quieter moments.
I currently shoot with a Canon R6 Mark II (nicknamed Sauron MII), using professional lenses to achieve crisp, vibrant imagery that reflects the raw spirit of the Tongass National Forest. Each photograph is carefully chosen for its story — the emotion, stillness, or spark that reminds us why this land is worth protecting.
Southeast Snapshots isn’t just about photography. It’s about rediscovering peace after years of noise, finding strength in stillness, and sharing the untamed beauty of Alaska one image at a time.