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How long have you been a photographer?
"I've been at National Geographic for 26 years now, but before that I worked for a newspaper. I worked there for about two years, so I've been doing this for 28 years."
What got you interested in photography?
"I was always interested in storytelling. And when I went to college, I was actually majoring in something else, but I decided to take a photography course and I fell in love with it. It's another way of storytelling."
What do you enjoy most about photography?
"Having that opportunity to make people care or see that a place is beautiful. That's the best part, knowing that your work has shown someone something and that they learned something from it."
When did you start shooting digital?
"I am very new at shooting digital — not because of the cameras, but because of needing to learn the whole workflow and needing to be able to archive things in a professional way. I have monkeyed around with the cameras for a couple of years."
Is the transition scary for you?
"Very scary because I have been shooting film for 30 years, and I understand it so well. Plus, people my age didn't grow up with computers, so we aren't as good with them as kids today."
Have you found that there are things you can do with digital that you can't do with film?
"Lots of things: Digital is amazing in low light. Digital allows you to see results instantly and fine-tune a picture — which is really neat when you are trying something new, creatively. Digital images are easier to play with afterward in what is basically a digital darkroom."
Do you enjoy traveling to other countries?
"Oh yeah! I love it! I've never gotten tired of it."
Where have you traveled?
"I've been to every continent except Antarctica. I don't think I can even remember where I've been. If you really love traveling, you don't think about where you've been, but where you haven't been."
Have you ever been in dangerous situations?
"Somewhat. I have been in a few scary situations. But I try to avoid that. Some of the most dangerous things are when I'm not paying attention and I don't even notice it until someone catches me or pulls me out of a street or something like that."
What is your favorite photograph that you shot?
"I assume that you are asking about my favorite digital photo — and that would probably be one I will take next! I never really have favorites but am always trying to grow as a photographer and get better and better."
What is your favorite part of photography?
"I would say going new places and meeting new people. The job is never the same, day to day, and it gets you out into the world. It's the most exciting career I could ever imagine."
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