"Who set my camera on the green box?" "Arrrggghhhhhh, I forgot to turn IS on/off!" "Why am I shooting at ISO 3200 in broad daylight!?!" "I'm too close!" "Ugh, now I'm too far away!" "That gull is totally photo bombing my shot!" "Do I really need another posterior photo of a Mule deer?" "Does someone need to make a Facebook page about this?" Are these the rants of a crazed lunatic perhaps, or is this just me on any given day trying to capture the splendor of the natural world? Those who shoot with me often never see this side of me, but my wife knows the real me. She has seen that man — a mad man obsessed with photographing wildlife and nature.
Brown Pelican
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Wildlife and nature are my obsessions. I think they always have been. Often times I blame my Native American bloodline, though, much like my hairline, that excuse is getting a little bit thin. I have always had a passion for nature. I grew up here in the central coast of California and have called Los Osos my home for the last 38 years, though my family name arrived in the 1840's. I now raise my children here. They climb the same trees I did and build forts where the rusty nails of my childhood can still be found. The local flora and fauna have remained relatively untouched and remain the same as when I was growing up.
I wasn't always a photographer. I blame Dennis Sheridan — nature photographer and critter wrangler extraordinaire — for that.
Years ago I was literally and figuratively bitten by the bug. On several occasions I helped Dennis wrangle critters for photo shoots. The thought of playing with creatures both great and small, photographing them, and perhaps getting paid like Dennis, seemed all too compelling. Finally, all those skills I had mastered as a young boy — catching lizards, snakes and other creepy crawlers — would come into play. I had found my calling! But, it hadn't found me yet. It was about this time that my wife and I found each other.
Young love swept us off into the land of financial debt, a struggling economy, sick children, and all those things that life throws at you while you're making plans. Everyone has his or her story. I won't bore you with mine, but we made a decision that I would be the one to stay home to raise our children. I'd become a stay at home dad. Finally, with the support of my loving wife, Shawna, I could pursue my photography. For Christmas I got my first digital camera. Moose Peterson, watch out!
Hanging Out at Oso Flaco
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Elephant Seals
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Montana de Oro Bobcat
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My first digital camera was a Kodak DC215. Not just any DC 215, but the gold-plated millennium edition with a 1.3 megapixel sensor, 2x optical zoom and 8MB compact flash card and reader (I know I'll shoot my eye out). I was a man with a mission! Fast-forward to 2013 and I have more camera gear than a person should be allowed to have. I am a man obsessed with gear, gadgets, and nature photography. But, it's much more than just the photography — it's the friendships and community that come with it that make it my obsession.
Alpen Glow
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Grand Teton Eagle
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I have been very fortunate to have some of what I consider the best nature photographers in the area to shoot with. I cherish my early mornings with Marlin Harms, critter shoots with Dennis Sheridan, bird photography with Bill Bouton, and kayaking with Rich Hanson. Friends like Don Henderson and Alice Cahill who have helped motivate me and keep me focused are what make it all worthwhile. I've made so many other friends — too many to list — by being part of this amazing photography community.
Red-eyed Tree Frog
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Grand Teton Grizzly
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I have never met such a welcoming group of people as we have here on the Central Coast. I am amazed at the generosity and talent of all of those that share their photographic knowledge and information. I won't go into more individual names, but you know who you are. Morro Photo Expo, Slo Camera Club, Photo Morro Bay, Light Photographic Workshops, The Photoshop and, of course, The SLO Coast Journal. I am grateful for your guidance in the community of photography. Without these resources and friendships, I'd just be some guy with a camera meandering through fields muttering to himself about shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. Perhaps I'm still that guy, but at least I know I'm not alone in my lunacy.
Eventually, I'd like to see my photography become something that allows me to give back to the community, either by teaching, leading workshops, or contributing to the greater good of the environment. I'd like to be able to share images of lands and animals that need to be preserved and protected. I wouldn't mind getting paid for my photography either! I do have a family to raise, bills to pay, and a sewer line to install. It would be nice to be able to give back to my family as well, since they support my addiction to nature photography.
Electric Blue
All in all it's a good life here on the Central Coast as a wildlife and nature photographer. I can't complain. If you'd like to see some of my images, check out my websites at Donald Quintana.com, Quintana Studios.com, or my Flickr pages. If you'd like to go shoot, drop me an e-mail and if I'm available, we'll meet up.
