I'm Clay

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A Little Background...

Growing up on 20 acres in a rural part of West Michigan and being homeschooled provided me with the perfect environment to learn photography. I started exploring the world of photography using my mom's manual 35mm Canon and have not stopped using a camera since. Wandering through forests and fields, capturing life on film and eventually on digital, I learned standard techniques and found my own creative expression. My mom always critiqued my work as she was a photographer as well and always encouraged me to keep learning and pushing myself to a higher perfection. I am truly grateful for the continual support of my entire family, but especially my mom and everything she has taught me. I would be nothing without them.

Over time I’ve realized that doing landscape photography is my dream in life, aspiring to my calling, if you will. Every time I go out on a photography adventure I know I am doing what I am supposed to do in life. When the day ends, I greatly anticipate the next opportunity, the next adventure, and the next photo.

My portfolio includes everything from nature and wildlife to families and adorable kids. Restaurant, food and beverages to manufacturing presses and assembly lines. People and pets, nuts and bolts, rivers and streams, mountain heights and prairie expanses. I've also photo-trekked throughout the state of Michigan and photographed locations North, West, South and East of our Michigan borders...read more about that below!

Passions

When I'm not out taking photos...

Favorite Quotes...

“Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. People are considered successful who get more out of life than they put in. But a person of value will give more then he receives.” - Albert Einstein

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” - Dalai Lama

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” - Mark Twain

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde

"One who loves must learn fear. One who fears must learn love. The thinker must do. The doer must think. The pacifist must fight, the fighter must find peace. If you flow as a river, burn as a fire. If you burn as a furnace, flow as a river. If you fly as a bird, sit firm as a rock. If you sit firmly, then fly as a bird. Be a fire that flows. A rock that flies. Love with fear and fear with love. For we are not fire, not water, not air, not rocks, not thoughts, not deeds, not fear, not love. We are G-dly beings." - Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“All the world’s problems stem from light being withheld. Our job then, is to correct this. Wherever we find light, we must rip away its casings, exposing it to all, letting it shine forth to the darkest ends of the earth. Beginning with the light you yourself hold.” - Tzvi Freeman

“What is essential is invisible to the eye.” - The Little Prince

Travels

It's about the journey, not just the destination!

Ever since I was a young child I loved traveling! Whether it was a short afternoon fieldtrip or a two week long excursion, I enjoyed and soaked in every moment of it. Now-a-days I don't have as much time to do as many trips as I'd like but when I am able to get out I still love it.

One of my goals is to visit all 50 of the United States and so far I’ve been to 41 of them. From sea to shining sea, I’ve seen mountains, prairies, waterfalls, caves, tunnels, glaciers, canyons, arches, experiencing the dry heat of Death Valley California to the brisk air of Alaska, the muggy air of Florida to the frigid temps of the northern most point of the U.P. in Michigan. I’ve witnessed the majestic flight of eagles and incredible strength bears display. In the crisp night air of the Rocky Mountains, I’ve listened to elk calling to each other and great horned owls beckoning for their mates through the silent dark forest. I've watched countless shooting stars and experienced the deep green and blue hues of the Aurora Borealis. Through all of this there isn't an ounce of me that isn't awe struck every time I am blessed with another one of these experiences.

What is next after I complete my goal of visiting all 50 States? Well whether I complete it or just get close to completing it, next I'll start traveling internationally...Armenia, Israel, Iceland, Africa and so many other places! Have an idea of where I should go next or perhaps have an empty room where I could spend a few nights in? Let me know as I'd love to hear from you.

Life & Living

Each of us has a mountain to climb, a river to cross and a trail to hike.

It's not a matter of when or where, but more so of how!

How will you embrace the climb, will you dread every step of it or will you take each step knowing that, although it's only one small step out of many, you're that much closer to the top. Will you grow through your weaknesses and look back upon your past acknowledging the mistakes, or will you let your past define who you are and your future?

If you've made it this far down the page and you're still reading, then I want to thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about me. The above paragraph is something that I think about regularly and really it's something everyone should ponder every now-n-then. In this world of instant gratification and non-stop busyness, it's easy to get caught up in lifes craziness and forget about our dreams and goals in life.

That is why I think it's such a good idea to take a breather or vacation and just refocus on life. Take a break from all the busyness and just think, about you, your family, your past and your future. Yes we can't control what the future holds, but we can definitely choose the path we take. We serve an infinite G-d, and there's an infinite number of possiblities for our life, the only thing that holds us back is our finite view of ourselves. All we have to do is take that first step and start to climb!