Randall N Lantz Rlantz2006@verizon.net Artist Statement |
| Randall N Lantz |
I enjoy travel. My profession as a geologist has brought me opportunities
to see many things in many different places, so naturally, the wish to
capture the moments led to a love of photography.
Photography became an interest back in 1978 when I took my first
photography classes at the then Southwest Texas State University, now
Texas State University (it will always be SWTSU to me!). I purchase my
first Canon AE-1 (used, of course) and began taking photos of the many
places I went, from a job at the Grand Canyon, to several duty stations
and (rare) liberty ports while in the US Navy submarine fleet. That first
camera stayed faithfully with me for nearly 35 years until the exposure
system finally wore out.
After leaving the Navy in 1992, I tried to pursue an Engineering degree
at UT Arlington, but my lack of love for math (what I found to be an
essential trait for engineers) led me to look at a degree in natural
sciences, so I graduated with a degree in geology in 1996. I took a
position with an environmental consulting firm shortly afterwards and
started a career filled with travel. I remember one year, I visited 29
states. I always carried my camera, but in 2002, it took a whole new
direction. I convinced the company to make the switch to digital
cameras. Switching to digital allowed us to not worry about the cost of
film or processing. Although the early cameras were fairly crude, they
were fascinating! I was agasp at the ability of our first 1.3 megapixel
camera, that stored up to 40 pictures on a floppy disk! As always,
technology advanced rapidly, and we soon replaced the early cameras
with newer and better quality models. In 2005, I purchased my first
digital camera just in time for a trip to Alaska. It allowed me to not worry
about the cost of capturing such wonderful sights as the Kenai Glaciers
and Denali National Park.
I love capturing the natural world, as a love of landscapes and nature is
what drew me to photography, but I don’t stop there. I enjoy capturing
stop action water drops and close-up microchips as much as a star-filled
winter sunrise in Idaho or a colorful aphid on a flower stalk. I have been
honored to be Photographer of the Month for Hagerman National
Wildlife Refuge, and have photographs on several wildlife pages on the
Smithsonian National Zoo website. My profession allows me the ability
to travel to many new and wonderful places, and I never miss an
opportunity to spend some extra time finding the sites to bring back and
share.
I’ve since upgraded to better quality digital cameras, and amassed an
amazing number of photographs. The camera has allowed me to see the
world around me with a different view. It has allowed me to practice
patience, waiting for that cloud to pass, or the sun to reach that perfect
point, or for that little chipmunk to turn his little head. It has allowed me
to learn acceptance, when that little chipmunk decides to run off, without
turning his little head, after I’ve waited for 5 minutes. It has allowed me to
share the beauty and wonder I see through the viewfinder. I hope you
enjoy it as well.
to see many things in many different places, so naturally, the wish to
capture the moments led to a love of photography.
Photography became an interest back in 1978 when I took my first
photography classes at the then Southwest Texas State University, now
Texas State University (it will always be SWTSU to me!). I purchase my
first Canon AE-1 (used, of course) and began taking photos of the many
places I went, from a job at the Grand Canyon, to several duty stations
and (rare) liberty ports while in the US Navy submarine fleet. That first
camera stayed faithfully with me for nearly 35 years until the exposure
system finally wore out.
After leaving the Navy in 1992, I tried to pursue an Engineering degree
at UT Arlington, but my lack of love for math (what I found to be an
essential trait for engineers) led me to look at a degree in natural
sciences, so I graduated with a degree in geology in 1996. I took a
position with an environmental consulting firm shortly afterwards and
started a career filled with travel. I remember one year, I visited 29
states. I always carried my camera, but in 2002, it took a whole new
direction. I convinced the company to make the switch to digital
cameras. Switching to digital allowed us to not worry about the cost of
film or processing. Although the early cameras were fairly crude, they
were fascinating! I was agasp at the ability of our first 1.3 megapixel
camera, that stored up to 40 pictures on a floppy disk! As always,
technology advanced rapidly, and we soon replaced the early cameras
with newer and better quality models. In 2005, I purchased my first
digital camera just in time for a trip to Alaska. It allowed me to not worry
about the cost of capturing such wonderful sights as the Kenai Glaciers
and Denali National Park.
I love capturing the natural world, as a love of landscapes and nature is
what drew me to photography, but I don’t stop there. I enjoy capturing
stop action water drops and close-up microchips as much as a star-filled
winter sunrise in Idaho or a colorful aphid on a flower stalk. I have been
honored to be Photographer of the Month for Hagerman National
Wildlife Refuge, and have photographs on several wildlife pages on the
Smithsonian National Zoo website. My profession allows me the ability
to travel to many new and wonderful places, and I never miss an
opportunity to spend some extra time finding the sites to bring back and
share.
I’ve since upgraded to better quality digital cameras, and amassed an
amazing number of photographs. The camera has allowed me to see the
world around me with a different view. It has allowed me to practice
patience, waiting for that cloud to pass, or the sun to reach that perfect
point, or for that little chipmunk to turn his little head. It has allowed me
to learn acceptance, when that little chipmunk decides to run off, without
turning his little head, after I’ve waited for 5 minutes. It has allowed me to
share the beauty and wonder I see through the viewfinder. I hope you
enjoy it as well.