Ospreys soared overhead at Shell Creek Landing, the
place we call home on Kiawah, affording me the perfect
opportunity to photograph those magnificent birds of prey.
Much to my amazement, perched on a limb by the water was
a special treat, an extraordinary great horned owl peering at
me with large, yellow, piercing eyes. An owl at this time of
day is a rare sight. For at least 30 minutes, as if posing for a
magazine shoot, the owl moved only its head, affording me
the chance for some wonderful photographs. I relive that
magical experience on a daily basis as I pass by the canvasprinted image in my home’s entryway.
My family and I have enjoyed a vacation home on
Kiawah for almost a decade. We love the serenity, bicycling,
golfing, and kayaking, as well as the scenery and wildlife.
The incredible natural beauty of Kiawah Island has been
a huge inspiration for my photography that became a
hobby for me quite by accident. Inspired by a local wildlife
photographer and the beauty of Kiawah, I acquired some
basic equipment—a Nikon D60 camera (no longer produced)
with a Nikon 18-200mm lens. As my interest and passion
for nature photography grew, my arsenal of equipment did
WINTER/SPRING 2016 • VOLUME 35
as well. It now includes a Nikon D7100 camera with a Sigma
150-500mm lens and a Manfrotto monopod. These essentials
are with me whenever I am bicycling on the Island, my
favorite mode of transportation.
My primary focus continues to be on nature photography
—the spectacular scenery and wildlife of the Lowcountry of
South Carolina. I captured the “Creatures of