My Story: I was born and raised in Dumas, Texas and spent the next 20 years of my life living in Texas and Oklahoma. Having moved to the Puget Sound area over 20 years ago, I now call Bellevue ‘home’. I am a teacher by training, a clinical research consultant by profession and a photographer by passion. I have been in a love affair with France for over 40 years. There was a "je ne sais quoi", something that cannot be adequately described or expressed, that drew me to it. When I was finally able to act on that love affair and travel to France, I was certain I would be able to pinpoint the source of its appeal to me. I discovered that it was not a single thing, but a multitude of things that influenced my love of the country - the light that cannot be adequately described, the architecture in the cities and villages , the people, the beauty and diversity of the countryside and the sea, the wine, the food, the markets, the sounds of French language. I hope these images communicate those feelings. I have studied with Bryan Peterson (author of Understanding Exposure) in Paris and Provence, France. I have also studied with Jackie Ranken in Queenstown, New Zealand; John Greengo, Richard Lynch, Sean Arbabi, David Cobb and others. Each has taught me new ways to 'see' and capture things. I have exhibited in Seattle, Issaquah, Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island and a number of locations on Whidbey Island. In 2012, I was selected as the featured artist for the Blanco Lavender Festival in Blanco, Texas. My image "Breaking Away" was recently awarded 1st prize in the "Spirit of Flight" photography competition at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.