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My first love was animals. Still is. It was through pets and wildlife in my youth that I learned about the larger world outside of Los Angeles. Trips to the local deserts rewarded me glimpses of lizards, snakes, hawks and other goodies hiding under rocks and logs. As I got older, the trips broadened to include Yosemite, Sequoia, the Pacific Coast, Grand Canyon, etc. Photography was a natural outgrowth of wanting to capture and extend the time I felt a part of their world.
The acceptance and unconditional love from animals, whether pets or wildlife, is well known. Philosophically and spiritually, many cultures, ours included, consider animals a link or doorway to the transcendental world. By opening our hearts, they allow us to feel closer to what connects humanity in the world. They allow us to share parts of ourselves that often takes years to share with other people. They allow children to learn ways of non-verbal interacting, ways of listening, sharing and socializing that have been proven to make us happier and healthier.
So the idea that animals speak all languages equally led to a pursuit of images that capture this universal link. Regardless of geography, economics or politics, our connections with animals are also direct connections with all the emotions that unite humanity.