Featured Artist Peter Nichols

Photographer Peter Nichols shares a colorful and diverse portfolio of images that tell the story of his world travels. View more of his work on his website.

 

 

I would not fit the mold of a typical artist. I loved science when I was a young boy and decided to study biochemistry as far as I could in grad school. What I realized on a trip to visit my brother in Kenya, when I was 19, was that science didn’t completely fulfill my intellectual needs.

 

 

I found that the camera I had taken along opened my eyes to many things around me that I may well not have seen without the camera in hand. At this point I was hooked on both travel and photography. When I take a photo, I understand that photo will never be captured again exactly as I saw it.

 

 

I’m very drawn to the photography of people, their cultures and animals. The subjects I am drawn to may be due to my love of science and nature. It is very rewarding to capture something beautiful in nature on film.

 

 

I find myself working very hard to get a great photo by walking around subjects I’m interested in and trying to find the best light possible. One of my favorite activities when I travel is to start walking at first light to see things in their best light. This time of day is usually quiet, and I’m not distracted by activities around me.

 

 

With film photography, I loved spending time in the dark room developing my work. This was challenging and time-consuming work. I am a big fan of digital photography because I can still utilize all the techniques of the dark room, but with much less time involvement and instantaneous results.

 

 

I plan to travel as long as possible and still find absolute enjoyment in reaching a new land. With the help of my camera, I see the world so much better.

 

 

Many of my photographs are hanging in my home, and I can still remember taking every one of them. I attribute this ability to recall each photo to my heightened sense of vision the camera brings me.

 

 

Travel and photography are almost like being a teenager again. Everything is new, vibrant, memorable and wonderful. What a thrill for me!

 

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