A few years into my journey as an editor at a daily newspaper in West Texas, I yearned to get behind the camera. I saw the photography equipment, DSLRs, that the staff photographers used. I wanted to get my hands on those top-of-the-line Canons and dive into digital photography. I dabbled in film photography for photojournalism in high school and college during the late 90s and early aughts.

At the time I was editor of two sections of the newspaper, the Business and Health sections. I became friends with some of the photographers and shadowed them on assignments when I could. I gave myself assignments that had me reporting and photographing a variety of features in my sections. To make extra scratch and gain valuable experience, I worked overtime to shoot Friday night football on my day off during the season. I enjoyed the rush of going out to a small school, some were plowed cotton fields in the middle of nowhere, and shooting some smashmouth football. I loved capturing the atmosphere – all the town coming out – and cheering on their guys. The best shots are always the ones that capture the human condition.

After 12 years in the newspaper industry, my career’s second act is now in state government, and my job moved me to Austin. Since I moved, I started building my photography equipment and taking freelance opportunities here and there.

Today, I’m confident in my photography skills and have some nice equipment in my arsenal. I aim to take photos that are of newsworthy quality. Anything that warrants being put above the fold on the front page of a newspaper is important and must be a striking image. I look forward to opportunities that allow me to showcase the beauty, emotion and visually appealing aspects of life’s important moments.