I’ve always been captivated by light, its interaction with objects, the shadows it casts, and the hues that shift throughout the day. My attempts to capture these observations never found their medium in sketching or painting. It was only when a high school friend lent me his Canon SLR camera for a day at my relatives’ home on the Santiam River in Oregon that I saw the world anew through a lens. In that moment, a spark ignited within me, kindling a creative flame that would blaze later in life. Yet, even after this revelation, music remained my primary passion.

Like many, life’s journey encompassed relationships, marriage, a variety of jobs, a return to academia, and other duties. My passion for photography lay dormant until my 30s when I began working at Camera World in Portland, Oregon. Surrounded by equipment, my interest was reignited. Although I couldn’t afford the ideal gear, the owner gifted me a Canon “Photura,” a point-and-shoot barrel-style 35mm camera resembling a camcorder more than a traditional camera. Despite having a collection of negatives and photos, I never honed my skills with it. It was only after a relative found their Ricoh SLR (possibly an XR-10) too cumbersome for capturing swift childhood moments and sold me their setup, opting for a simpler point-and-shoot, that I began to seriously engage with photography. I took advantage of my employee discount to buy film and process it in-store. One day, the owner noticed my reprints and inquired about the camera I used. After I mentioned the Ricoh SLR and its basic lenses, he led me to the used gear section and presented me with a Minolta Maxxum 5000i 35mm SLR and a Minolta Maxxum 35-80mm f/4-5.6 zoom lens, encouraging me to share my thoughts on it. Shortly before Christmas, he surprised me by gifting the camera, wishing me a Merry Christmas. With that Minolta, I embarked on the arduous yet rewarding journey of mastering photography.

I have a laid-back approach to learning new skills, which is why I stick to singing and playing original music—it allows me to improvise on the spot. This laid-back attitude, however, doesn’t quite work for photography, or many other pursuits for that matter. The few good photos I’ve managed to take were the result of a fortunate combination of composition and serendipitous camera settings. I suspect my smart SLR’s automatic features also contributed. Yet, as it often happens, life intervened, and music once again became the focal point of my life, relegating the camera to the depths of a closet.

Life can be chaotic… I went through a divorce, a career change, and witnessed the evolution of technology. In late October 2004, I had the chance to visit Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. I unearthed my old camera case, inspected the camera, and visited a camera store where a friend worked to purchase new batteries—two, to be precise. While there, I inquired about the latest digital cameras and ended up buying a Canon PowerShot A400 3mp point-and-shoot, which I was told would yield decent 8×10 prints. (A DSLR was simply too expensive.) I planned to use both my film camera and this new compact gem side by side. That trip turned everything on its head. My film photos were terrible, but the compact camera shone like a star. In hindsight, it was a reflection of my lack of photography skills. The Minolta 5000i camera and lens are still with me, though I doubt they’ve been used since that trip. The compact camera, however, served me well for years until I upgraded to a newer model.

From the late 1990s to the spring of 2018, I traveled throughout North America as part of my career. I spent several years as a Field Technology Specialist for an Insurance Brokerage firm’s IT division and as a Field Service Engineer installing ergonomic work solutions for radiologists. Over time, my cellphone became my preferred camera, despite its limitations. Unable to afford a DSLR, I opted for an Olympus SP-565UZ Super-Zoom camera, re-igniting my passion for photography. My enthusiasm for capturing images soared, and soon I aspired to acquire more advanced equipment. My mother, observing my growing creativity and excitement for photography, offered to contribute to my next camera purchase. Tragically, she passed away before we could make that a reality. Later, my sister revealed that my mother had left a small life insurance policy, which my father agreed she would have wanted me to use for my photography. With that support, I purchased my first Olympus OMD E-M10 camera, along with a few lenses and accessories. Although I’ve upgraded my equipment since, I still cherish and use that E-M10. Now, with every photograph I take, I am reminded of my mother’s love and encouragement for my photographic journey.

This website serves as a platform to showcase my work, express my creativity, and hopefully inspire others to follow their chosen passions. I am eager to share more about my experiences and insights into photography and invite you to join me on this journey.

Scott Mueller