I've never been very good at qualifying myself. If I were asked whether I enjoy shooting outdoor photography or not, I'd feel compelled to simplify it and say that I just enjoy being outside. My pictures come about only as an attempt to share with others why I enjoy being outside. The beautiful colors, the inspiration, the adventure.

The world is full of pretty places, and ways to see them. I live and breathe every moment towards experiencing them and those ways. I bike (road and mountain), I ski, I snowshoe, I climb, I mountaineer, and sometimes, I just walk. And wherever or whenever I'm doing such activities, the combination of what I see with what I'm doing inspires an emotion. An emotion I want to share. So I take pictures. I paint film. This is a good thing.

It's all about color and emotion, I guess. Oh, and a bit of faith, luck and patience. Somewhere skill comes into play and much farther back in the list of priorities is equipment. In the end I just like being there, outside, breathing mountain air, waiting for the sun to rise or chasing the perfect light. Or just enjoying the outdoors. It's all good. And that's what I'm about. If I'm asked to qualify myself, that is.

Contact Richard at chittick@earthlink.net