I'm a photographer specializing in animal and people portraits, and I'm pretty sure I have the best job in the world. What I love about a photo session is the one-on-one, soul-to soul connection that can happen when we slow down into stillness.

This phenomena happens a lot when working with rescue animals. There’s always a moment of true connection that, in a photo, potential adopters can see; and hopefully this will save a life. Much of the time these rescued dogs and kitties arrive here in Boulder fresh off days of crowded van transport, or they've just landed by private plane into the arms of loving strangers (with another round of transport to their foster home). You can tell they're pretty much wondering what planet they're on. Even the dogs who've settled into long-term loving foster care can have that Please Don't Abandon Me look in their eyes. This is where treats, calm attention, affection and gentleness come in. And I get a treat as well: If I’ve had a crazy ungrounded day, then getting to work with these pets and their foster folks settles me right down. It’s a good lesson that reminds me to be more mindful and focused.

The older I get, I find myself longing for silence. It’s the quiet empty-fullness in a moment of stopping and looking into another being’s eyes and seeing that on a profound level — behind all our complicated thoughts and emotions — every living thing’s deepest innermost is exactly the same as everything else’s deepest innermost. In my work as a photographer what I love is revealing this deep presence everything has: that simple and profound reality behind the curtain of this busy world.