“I have a vivid memory of standing on the ramp of a C-130 aircraft looking out over the Arizona landscape at 5:15 in the morning. It was quite beautiful at 15,000 feet—a mix of bright orange, red, and vermilion painted the desert floor and sky. I was a military free fall instructor at the time. Standing there looking at the visual splendor, I turned to my student to give him words of wisdom before he took his first free fall jump, “Can you believe we are getting paid to do this?” I looked back out and said to myself, “Somebody should take a picture of this.” Then the light turned green, the jumpmaster gave us the hand signal to GO, and I slapped my student on the shoulder indicating it was time to jump. I pulled my parachute shortly after my student and leisurely drifted down while taking in the scenery, staying upwind until it was time get into the landing pattern. I had never really noticed the sky before, but on that day I did. I guess it was destiny tapping me on the shoulder to let me know I was about embark on another life journey—photography.”