Thoughts about nature and humanity, art and the wilderness experience

Van Life, Day 730: Two Years in a Van
Van Life, Day 730: Two Years in a Van
Today marks 730 days since I turned in the keys to my back house apartment in Lubbock and moved into a 1995 Dodge Ram B2500 van with my two dogs.... Read more...
"The Ethereal Dance of Fog" and "Feather and Peal" - Two Ambient Nature Films
"The Ethereal Dance of Fog" and "Feather and Peal" - Two Ambient Nature Films
I’ve just realized that I have two ambient nature films on my second YouTube channel that I haven’t shared here, so I’ll remedy that in one post. By the way,... Read more...
To Dwell in the Extraordinary
To Dwell in the Extraordinary
I started writing this post two years ago and never finished it, though I used a selection of its text in a short film honoring my seven-year journey on The... Read more...
New Side Project + 2026 Nature Calendars Available to Pre-order
New Side Project + 2026 Nature Calendars Available to Pre-order
Last week I finished designing my wall calendars for next year, and those are now available for pre-order through my website. If you’re interested, there are two designs: my nature... Read more...
Summer Rain
Summer Rain
It’s raining this morning. A wonderfully peaceful time to sit quietly and write. I took the camera out a few days ago and made another ambient nature film here in... Read more...
Nogal
Nogal
In late April and early May, I spent three weeks on public land in Lincoln National Forest, between Nogal and Capitan, New Mexico. It was a glorious bit of peace... Read more...
Midwest Snowscape
Midwest Snowscape
Before leaving the Midwest to return to West Texas, I was able to take the camera out and create another ambient nature film. I think this is my favorite one... Read more...
Returning Home
Returning Home
Greetings from northwest Missouri, and happy 2025! I’ve only recently become aware of the fact that there is no way to turn off international paid subscriptions on Substack, and whether... Read more...
Six Months in a Van
Six Months in a Van
It’s been six months since the dogs and I moved into the van full-time, and I’ve not written here much. Thanks for sticking around.  I’ve spent a lot of time... Read more...
Even the Pros Struggle
Even the Pros Struggle
I subscribe to Thomas Heaton on YouTube. He’s one of the few nature photographers on the video platform who shows the reality of going out into challenging landscapes and coming... Read more...
Magic vs The Odds
Magic vs The Odds
I’m sitting at a small unfinished wooden desk in my studio—one of the last remaining pieces of furniture in a space filled with boxes—thinking about what I’ve gotten myself into.... Read more...
Ordinary Magic
Ordinary Magic
Happy new year, dear friends and readers. I’m writing on this fine new morning from my home studio in Lubbock after spending a full two weeks in Northwest Missouri, the... Read more...
When A Light Goes Out
When A Light Goes Out
A very dear friend has died. I had just gotten to know her these past two years or so, but her life and friendship have left an indelible mark on... Read more...
Patreon Announcement
Patreon Announcement
Finishing The Colorado Trail this season added fuel to a fire that’s been burning inside me for at least a decade, if not longer. Since stepping off trail, I’ve recommitted... Read more...
The Colorado Trail Finish: Part Three
The Colorado Trail Finish: Part Three
The finale to my three-part trip video series has been available on my YouTube channel for awhile now. Perhaps you’ve already watched it. I apologize for only now getting around... Read more...
The Colorado Trail Finish, Part Two
The Colorado Trail Finish, Part Two
I’ve just published part two of my trip videos from The Colorado Trail finish this season. I hope you’ll enjoy watching it. There were some audio challenges, since I didn’t... Read more...
Ending a Seven-year Journey on The Colorado Trail
Ending a Seven-year Journey on The Colorado Trail
Two weeks ago I stepped off trail and into the Junction Creek Trailhead parking lot in Durango. Elated and exhausted, I stumbled over to the sign to make a quick... Read more...
What's in a Trail?
What's in a Trail?
I mentioned in my last post that I was working on a documentary short film about why I started backpacking The Colorado Trail seven years ago, and why I continue... Read more...
Art-making as Joy-making
Art-making as Joy-making
The expression of life—of meaningful experiences and ideas—through artistic mediums has always been important to me. When I was young, after my older brother got his driver’s license, he would... Read more...
Inner Landscapes: Thin Places & People's Faces
Inner Landscapes: Thin Places & People's Faces
As a photographer who works in both portraiture and landscapes, I often find myself contemplating the similarities in my approach to the two. Read more...
Less and Less About Photography
Less and Less About Photography
It was never about the photography. Truth is, it was never about the music, either. It was always about making a living doing something I love, because I long ago... Read more...
"Tif the Photographer" and Other Misconceptions
"Tif the Photographer" and Other Misconceptions
I recently sold my flute. There's a much bigger story here, but I want to focus on a specific aspect of the story today.  Since engaging with the buyer of... Read more...
An Awkward Waltz with a Mule Deer Doe
An Awkward Waltz with a Mule Deer Doe
I've been a bit depressed lately, as is common for me when I return to Lubbock from somewhere else. Usually it takes making myself go for a drive somewhere outside... Read more...
Last Light of 2022
Last Light of 2022
I don't get particularly sentimental about new years these days. From such a perspective, a new year can start any day you like. But I usually spend the last hours... Read more...
Winter Bird Watching
Winter Bird Watching
My parents keep the birds here well-fed. Lest anyone think birds aren't intelligent creatures, these birds will land on the front porch, hop up to the sliding glass door and... Read more...
Not Lost
Not Lost
When I started backpacking The Colorado Trail in segments in 2016, I had no idea what it would come to mean to me. I'd spent most of my life in... Read more...
Good Morning, Owl
Good Morning, Owl
I did not grow up in a city. For the past twenty-five years, however, I’ve lived in one. Two different cities, not very large, but large enough for this wild... Read more...
Land as Family
Land as Family
My childhood and adolescence were firmly rooted in the more-than-human. I truly have my dad to thank for that, whose commitment to conserving wildlife in our state for the first... Read more...
Aging (Gracefully?), Part One
Aging (Gracefully?), Part One
It’s dark outside, and rain has been pouring down for a few hours now. Much-needed rain for West Texas. Thunder crashes and lightning flashes, intensifying the thrill of the storm.... Read more...