I am a retired US Army veteran and currently studying digital photography at the Art Institute of San Antonio. It amazes me how much I have grown as an artist and photographer since I began this journey in the summer of 2016. After nearly two decades of military service, it is a nice change of pace. But there are still demanding challenges in this career, just quite different than those I faced as a Soldier. Some things are very familiar however; like prior planning which is a big aspect of getting great landscapes, and situational awareness because some of the best photos come from being aware of what is happening around you and being ready to capture it with your camera. And finally, you need to know your equipment so you can focus on your craft rather than your tools! My constant companion is Dodger, my PTSD Service Dog. Because without his support and his watching my back, I wouldn’t be able to deal with the stresses of being out in public to work on my craft. He is a rescue animal from the City of Cibolo Animal Shelter. Since he is a rescue, we’ve had to guess a bit but we’re pretty sure he is probably an American Staffordshire Terrier and Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. So, that means KWHammes is a team effort and we certainly make a great team! Therefore, if you want to have us come work on a project for you, know that he will be with me.