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Nature and Portrait Photographer
I shoot nature images from landscapes to wildlife, flowers, and even a
few portraits. In truth, I shoot anything that catches my eye,
particularly my cats. Of course, they now recognize my camera and run
for cover. The area around Boulder, Colorado is my home, and the focus
of most of my images. I had no idea when I began shooting I would
become so passionately involved. It has taught me new way to look at
the world, to feel its natural rhythms and to appreciate the beauty
that surrounds me but seemed invisible before I looked through my
viewfinder.
In early May of 1999, I was walking through the families of Canada
Geese goslings at Sawhill Ponds, a wildlife refuge east of Boulder. I
snapped away at the little fuzz balls. Then, through the telephoto
lens, I noticed one of the babies had fallen over. The gosling began to
twist and turn. I knew in an instant the baby was caught on something.
I had to go to the far end of a long barbed wire fence and back again.
All the while I watched as the parents and siblings squawked and paced.
As I approached, the family backed off and down the pond embankment.
When I knelt down, I saw a large, dirty fishhook caught in the baby's
foot. It was ripping a hole in the web. I gently placed a gloved hand
on the small body to hold it still and threaded the hook back through
the hole. For a moment, the baby lay there as I studied the web to
determine the extent of the damage. When I took my hand away, the
gosling popped up as if nothing had happened. All I saw was a bouncing
yellow ball as he/she skittered down the embankment where the family
welcomed him back. One by one by one, they waddled into the water and
swam away. I sat there and watched, tears welling in my eyes. Then I
stood up and tore almost 50 feet of fishing line from the grass.
Something wonderful and compelling touched me and changed the way I see
the world. I hope you see it in my photography.
You can visit my site at
www.coloradophotos.com or email me
at gregsum@coloradophotos.com.
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