| "Welcome to Canada," Ken shouted to me over | | | | I took at the Dunes into a local photography |
| the roar of the rain and thunder. A constant | | | | club contest and won an honorable mention. |
| downpour kept the photography workshop | | | | After that, I decided I was ready for the |
| indoors. We slipped out during a break in the | | | | next level.Then I started to have second |
| clouds, but as soon as we set up our tripods, | | | | thoughts. I didn't know anything about |
| a thunderstorm swept in out of nowhere and | | | | mountain country, and whenever I mentioned my |
| sent us scurrying back down the mountain | | | | plan to anyone, the response was "You better |
| trail to our cars. Since I signed on for this | | | | watch out for the bears." I was tempted to |
| tour of the Canadian Rockies, everything had | | | | back out. But, I had come too far to quit.So, |
| gone right.It rained sporadically for the | | | | I leafed through the advertising section of |
| first two days of the workshop and we were | | | | Outdoor Photographer magazine. I found a |
| all a little down. So, Ken Pugh, our | | | | photography workshop in Yoho and Banff |
| photography instructor and guide, used the | | | | national parks on the border of British |
| down time to teach us some nature photography | | | | Columbia and Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. |
| techniques and camouflage tactics. Those | | | | I called the number in the ad and signed up |
| sessions helped me a lot since I was a novice | | | | for my adventure.I flew to Calgary and caught |
| nature photographer.When the clouds cleared | | | | a bus to reach the designated meeting place. |
| again, we ventured out, and this time the | | | | As the bus wound through the mountains, I was |
| weather held. I believe Ken chased away the | | | | awestruck. It was the first time I had seen |
| bad weather with his sunny rendition of | | | | mountains in person. They loomed over |
| Willie Nelson's "Nothin but Blue Skies," | | | | everything like emissaries from heaven, |
| which he sang constantly since the first day | | | | offering enlightenment to anyone willing to |
| of the tour.The days afterwards were a moody | | | | climb their lofty heights. There was no way a |
| mix of sunshine, clouds and drizzle. The | | | | photograph could ever capture their glory.A |
| colors of the surrounding scenery were | | | | few hours later I reached my destination, a |
| intensified from the rain and overcast skies. | | | | combination restaurant, gas station and motel |
| When the sun popped out from behind the | | | | located at the foot of a mountain range with |
| clouds, the light was soft and delicate. It | | | | no other sign of civilization in sight. When |
| was a great time to photograph the majestic | | | | I walked into the restaurant, it seemed |
| mountains and forests.My adventure in the | | | | everything stopped and all eyes were on me. I |
| Canadian Rockies started years earlier, on my | | | | paused near the doorway, scanning the room |
| grandparents' farm in Michigan, where my | | | | for anyone with a camera.Then, I heard |
| sisters and I spent our summer vacations. It | | | | someone call my name. I turned and saw a |
| was there that I developed an appreciation | | | | burly looking guy, wearing a denim jacket and |
| for nature. As a teenager, I caught the | | | | sporting a thick black beard. He was waving |
| photography bug, and a few years later, I | | | | me over to a table where six or seven people |
| started photographing nature.Whenever I got | | | | were gathered. I walked over and he stuck out |
| the chance, I'd photograph the scenery in the | | | | his hand and said, "Hi, I'm Ken." I guessed |
| city parks of my neighborhood. After a while, | | | | he recognized me because I was the only black |
| those manicured landscapes bored me; I | | | | person on the tour. It was either that or my |
| dreamed of photographing mountains and | | | | gear.Except for me, everyone on the tour was |
| deserts, the places I saw in photography | | | | Canadian. One guy was from Nova Scotia. I had |
| magazines. But, I let that dream die away. I | | | | just a vague idea of where that was. |
| decided that since I lived in Chicago, | | | | Listening to the voices around me, I realized |
| pursuing a career as a nature photographer | | | | I was the one with an accent. I had made it |
| didn't make much sense.But dreams are hard to | | | | to the edge of the world.After a hard day of |
| kill, they wait for the right moment to rise | | | | trekking through the Canadian wilderness, we |
| and haunt you again. In my case, that moment | | | | gathered for diner and talked long into the |
| came about seven years later. I was at a time | | | | evening. During those times, we got to know |
| in my life when I wanted to do something | | | | one another, and I learned more about Canada |
| adventurous. I thought about trying nature | | | | than I ever wanted to know. But, those |
| photography, but I couldn't see how to make | | | | conversations broadened my perspective of the |
| it happen.Then I came across a copy of | | | | world, and I learned about myself. It was a |
| "Mountain Light," a coffee-table book of | | | | great experience hanging out with everyone.A |
| nature photography by the late Galen Rowell. | | | | few weeks after I returned home, I received |
| Rowell's work featured the exotic light and | | | | letters from two members of the group where |
| perspective of images taken at the edges of | | | | they expressed how much they enjoyed my |
| the world, high up in the mountains.But, what | | | | company.So I had reached my goal and |
| caught my attention was that he was an ex-car | | | | photographed the mountains. For awhile, I |
| mechanic and self--taught photographer. | | | | searched for a way to turn my passion into a |
| Rowell, who was also a world--class rock | | | | part-time business. I did some shooting on |
| climber, started taking pictures to share his | | | | vacations, and mounted a few exhibitions of |
| adventures. He took chances to realize his | | | | my work. The highlight of my career was when |
| vision, and today his images are | | | | the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago |
| world--renowned for their magical | | | | selected one of my photographs for its annual |
| qualities.Rowell's story and work inspired | | | | art show.The recognition was great, but I |
| me. So I dusted off my camera and set an | | | | managed to sell only a few photographs, which |
| audacious goal. I decided to visit some of | | | | was disappointing. Gradually, I came to |
| the landscapes Rowell had photographed.I took | | | | realize that when you follow a dream, money |
| a small first step. I went to the bookstore | | | | might not be the best measure your success. I |
| and bought a couple of books on nature | | | | see now that genuine success corresponds to |
| photography. I studied John Shaw's, "Complete | | | | personal growth.And in that department, I've |
| Guide to Nature Photography Field | | | | been a rousing success. I've seen some of the |
| Techniques." Once I learned the basics, I set | | | | beauty of the North American continent. I've |
| out to get some practice.The problem was I | | | | met and connected with people from far away |
| lived in Chicago, a place not known for its | | | | places, and learned we're all more or less |
| natural beauty. The closest natural | | | | the same. Above all, I've learned that "the |
| wilderness to Chicago is the Indiana Dunes. | | | | bears" weren't lurking in the forest waiting |
| So, that's where I went.The trips were worth | | | | to get me, and I had nothing fear. The |
| the effort. I entered one of the photographs | | | | adventure has been "Nothing but Blue Skies. |