Photography challenges you to really see the world around you. First, you are challenged to perceive something beautiful or interesting about the world around you. Then the camera challenges you to frame and capture that perception in a way that communicates to others. Every shutter release is a pop-quiz. Did you perceive and execute well? From both the successes and failure there is the opportunity to learn and grow. The successes reveal aspects of the world frozen in time for you to appreciate new details; the failures reveal opportunities to improve your craft. Ah, but on those rare occasions where great light, subject and technique come together for those briefest of moments is where the magic truly lies. Once you've done it once, you want to repeat it again and again.

That's why I am a photographer. I'm too tired of rushing through the world and not seeing what's there. Instead, I choose to slow down and appreciate where I am.

It would be a mistake to say that I am a self-taught photographer. Though I'm not a graduate of a formal program, I am a constant student. Sometimes I've learned in formal workshops or camera club lectures, often through blogs, books, and photography websites, but often through the iterative experimentation of taking photographs, evaluating the results, and trying again.

I am indebted to the many people who have taught me along the way. When I press the shutter, I hear Moose Peterson asking, "What's the subject?" or David Middleton, asking "Have you checked your background?". I often wonder how would Joe McNally or David Hobby light this scene. Days when I don't want to get out of bed to shoot, I consider the lengths that Galen Rowell went literally climbing mountains to capture beautiful images. From them and many more I take the inspiration and challenge to try to be the best I can be and better than yesterday.

I have been drawn initially to nature, landscape and low light / night photography. Primarily because those subjects don't complain if you are taking too long, or struggling to get the shot. (They may fly away, but never complain.) Lately, confident in my technique, I have started to pursue other types of photography including photojournalism, sports, and yes - even people.

Thanks for visiting my site,
Larry Warfield

You can contact me at:
LightChroniclePhotography@gmail.com