Over the past few years there’s been one steady love/hate relationship lingering in my life, and it’s time to settle the matter.

I need to move forward.

To grasp the whole scope of the relationship we have to jump back to that warm summer afternoon on the streets of Tokyo in 2006.

As we bounced around the amazing city of Tokyo, I carelessly swung a little silver Canon point and shoot camera from my wrist. Rarely did I snap a picture of anything, that is until we walked through the Tokyo fish market. It wasn’t until I showed my parents photos of the trip that I realized at least 85% of my pictures were of colorful and slimy edible sea creatures. The busy streets of Tokyo couldn’t seem to hold my camera’s interest for very long.

But as it were, a fellow traveler was snapping shots all over Tokyo with her big fancy DSLR camera.

Pssh, what a loser I thought.

Then somehow, likely by the grace of God, I found that fancy camera in my hands.

“Take a few shots,” she said.

I zoomed in. I zoomed out. I shot cool out-of-focus things. I tilted the camera to the side. I got artsy.

A few months later I had my very own big fancy DSLR. The Canon XSi with the kit lens, plus the 70-200 f4. I was locked and loaded.

Soon after this I switched my major and began pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in Photography.

Photography was king, and art was some distant fog that I was very skeptical of.

It took it’s sweet time, but just as graduation approached, my horizons began to widen.

And right here in this transition, was the shift in what had been a blissful relationship.

Suddenly, my relationship with The Camera got complicated.

Nine months after graduation I found myself at the beginning of what would be a two year apprenticeship studying with an oil painter, and three years later the two worlds collided when I was hired as photographer and videographer for Plein Air Magazine. (Streamline Publishing: Fine Art Connoisseur, Streamline Art Videos, Plein Air Convention, Figurative Art Convention, etc)

Another time I’ll talk about the things I learned from such an amazing experience, but this is where the camera made it’s full transition from a creative, art making tool, to a purely utilitarian piece of equipment.

To make a long story much much shorter, at times I was ready to toss The Camera overboard and hail the might paints as the only ruler of creativity.

But deep in the back of my mind, and from the voices of a few good friends, I knew that having these skills with the camera was a good thing, maybe even a blessing. And not just as a skill that an employer values, but something I could use personally, and even use as a painter.

Whoaaa, now lines were getting blurry.

Over the past few years I’ve dabbled in creating videos but have been inconsistent and even reluctant to do more.

All of this to say, I’m ready to fully embrace my skills (and love…) for The Camera, and use it to it’s best potential.

So Youtube, watch out, I’m coming for you!

If you’ve enjoyed my past videos, or just watching videos in general, I’d deeply appreciate you subscribing to my Youtube Channel.

And, what do you know, I have a brand new video up there, just published today!

You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gpEBqpWmk4

Go check it out, subscribe to my channel and leave a comment to let me know what you think!

Dear Camera, I’m sorry for the hostility that I’ve shown you in the past. I hope you’ll forgive me. I love you.

Most Sincerely,

Turner

Here’s a photo from 2014 at one of Plein Air Magazine’s events where I was attempting to work and play at the same time! Thanks to the wonderful artist, Greg Summer’s for snapping the photo.

About Me

In 2010 I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art. In 2011 my wife, Teysha, started graduate school at Boise State University while I undertook a two year oil painting apprenticeship. In May of 2018, we sold everything, quit our jobs, and hit the road! In August of 2019 we settled in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley of Montana.