Photography is one of the great joys of my retirement. It combines my love of the outdoors with the creativity that has always been part of who I am.

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The places and people I encounter through photography add up to incredible experiences. The awe of watching the Milky Way slowly appear in the night sky. The wind—a relentless locomotive—bursting through the trees along the ridges. The soft curl of a dahlia’s petals, the blending of pinks and yellows. A family of four skipping down a dirt road, laughing as snowflakes settle on their heads.

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I take the picture, play it back, and sometimes catch my breath at where I live and the people I am surrounded by.

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And then there is the magic of processing.

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I get to decide what more I want the image to say. How do I capture the wildness in a bison’s don't-mess-with-me attitude? How do I create a Milky Way photograph where the foreground is still visible? How do I share the intensity of a storm?

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The possibilities are endless, and the challenges are a delight.

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When I share my images, I hope a little of the beauty, the power, the story, and the wonder comes through. Can I convey what it feels like to wade through thigh-deep snow as the sun suddenly breaks through a snowstorm?

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I don't know.

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But I do know I love trying.