We can’t all have a “Forrest Gump Life” where everything just seems to work out regardless of the obstacles we encounter in life. Many years ago, before I considered a career in aviation, I was a budding Nature Photographer. My obstacles then were lack of time and lack of money. I dreamed of traveling to far away exotic locations to photograph the many Iconic scenes that many of us are familiar with today. After a few years of trying to maintain a full time job and unable to advance my photography career, I put my Nikon F3 film camera away to pursue a career in aviation as a professional pilot. Here is the interesting thing, after many hard years advancing up the aviation ladder from instructing student pilots, to flying cargo solo at night in small twin engine airplanes, I finally landed what I thought was my dream job flying a Boeing 737. But my first love has always been photography. When I first started my aviation career, I only took my camera out a few times for the occasional event. In the years that followed when time, travel or money limitations were not an obstacle, I started to make more and more images. Now, I am retired as an Aviation Professional and I have replaced my Nikon F3 with a D700. One of my perks as a retired pilot is that I get free travel on my airline and any of its partners. Now I can go almost anywhere in the world for free. To sweeten the deal, my lovely wife is also an airline pilot and I can travel on her privileges with her airline and their partners. How sweet is that! I’m excited about retirement. I’ve got my new camera, lenses and all that great gear that I always wanted. I’m super excited! I’m ready to go after those exotic locations. Photography, here I come!!! Oh, but first I have to go change a diaper and warm some milk and at 3:00 I have to go across town to pick up my son from preschool….. Hello. My name’s Forrest, Forrest Gump. You want a chocolate?
I did get out for a few days and here is where I went.
