I remember as a child going to my grandma’s house on a regular basis. There are some things about your grandparents’ houses that you’ll always remember. For me, I remember that she always had something baking, a project going on, and a National Geographic video or magazine on or out to look at. As I leafed through the magazines month after month, I remember experiencing new places through the stunning photographs displayed in each magazine.
And let’s not forget the videos. I remember especially the one about lions and hyenas. There was something eerie, something terrifying, and something intriguing about these ferocious animals and their power and prowess. And something equally terrifying when I realized that the photographers and videographers were close enough to the action to capture it in such detail. Only last year when I had the opportunity to see and photograph lions on a safari did I truly understand how richly satisfying and terrifying (at the same time) it would be to film enough footage to put together an entire video of animal behavior—especially if that animal is as majestic and powerful as a lion.
The National Geographic definitely helped shape my interest in travel and photography. You can’t help but be amazed at some of the detailed photographs and the impressive color, composition, and clarity of the photos. You can’t help but marvel at the skill and time necessary to create such images. You can’t help but feel the artistry.
From travel photos to human-interest stories, I remember feeling awe over and over. At some point I remember thinking that being a photographer for the National Geographic magazine would be the coolest job on the planet. You’d travel to these far-off places and have amazing opportunities to photograph the land, the people, and the culture. I still think it would be incredible.