I finally got a camera in August 2008 after decades of doing without. Trees and leaves were wonderful first targets, and that quickly lead to weekends in the Smokies, exploring new trails, and working through field guides and photos back home during the week.

My first real projects were the lichens of Sewanee, TN, and the lichens of the Great Smoky Mountians NP, TN and NC. The technical level was entirely hand-held camera, walk about, and shoot. Kirk Zigler and Julie Lively at my own institution welcomed me into their labs with their magnificent microscopes and computer-driven cameras. Gary Perlmutter, at the UNC Herbarium, and James C. Lendemer, at the Cryptogamic Herbarium, New York Botanical Garden, graciously help to improve the lichen determinations.

The lichenology and photography continue apace. In Summer 2009 I participated in lichen seminars with Ernie Brodo and Alan Fryday at the Humboldt Institute in Maine — excellent! — and in December 2009 added a 100mm macro lens and tripod to the kit.

The current project is Macrolichens of North America.

Camera : Canon 5D (since Jan 2012), Canon 40D (since Aug 2008) / Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro / Adobe Lightroom 2