Intro: Steph Scott

Aloha!

I grew up on the beaches of California and fell in love on the shores of Oahu. I ran on the varsity cross country team in high school (we placed 3rd in state) and was recruited to run for BYU—Hawaii. I’m training for an iron man race next summer. (120 mile bike, 2 mile swim, and a marathon, all in one race)

I actually met Aaron swimming in the ocean at Hukilau beach, Hawaii. We spent almost every day (for three years) in Hawaii at the beach. That is where I started to take interest in photography. Aaron is an avid surfer so as he surfed I sat on the beach and took picture after picture of him. I have been polishing my skills ever since and started to really enjoy photography. I am enchanted by photos of waves. My favorite photographer’s site is: www.clarklittlephotography.com

In a nut shell: I have a degree in elementary education and am currently getting certified to become a child life professional. But in the mean time, I stay home and play with my kiddos, Kensey 3 ½ and Zane 8 months, which are my joy.

I don’t have a sweet camera or any nun-chuck skills, but you got to start somewhere right?

Intro: Jessica Bateman

I too am from Utah, born and raised. I grew up in the Salt Lake area (South Jordan). I attended Utah State University after I graduated from high school. I married my husband, Dallas, 4 years ago. It wasn't until last August that I broke away from my comfort zone and moved to Indiana. I am here with Dallas who is a graduate student at Purdue. I am a mother of two adorable children, and I love being a mom! Evan is almost 3 and Makiah is 15 months old. They definitely keep me busy.

I can't say that I've always loved photography. My high school photography class is to blame :) I really didn't like developing my own film. Having to go that process was just a bore to me. Since I've entered the digital world I've loved photography! I can see my photos in an instant and it doesn't stop there. I love playing around with post processing to improve my work. My children have been an inspiration for me and I love taking pictures of them. Just in the past year I have really come to love photography and there is so much I want to learn. I just got a digital SLR (Canon Rebel XSi) almost two months ago, and I love it! I am excited for this blog and all the upcoming challenges.

Intro: Kristine Nielson

I'm a Utah native, though I've lived in California, Pennsylvania, or Indiana for most of the last 12 years. I am a graduate student at Purdue in the department of Earth and Atmospheric sciences, studying (of all things) the Great Salt Lake. Specifically, I'm trying to reconstruct the climate of the region around the Great Salt Lake using the stable isotopes of brine shrimp chitin. I used to grow sea monkies for my PhD, but I've killed them all off for now. They live on in my heart, as I've named my personal blog "seamonkiesrule.blogspot.com"

I have a husband and a 1 year old daughter (Sylvia), and a cat. I used to have a garden, but it's in hibernation thanks to the lovely cold weather.

I think I've always been a bit of a shutter bug, taking pictures mostly of family and friends, and quite a few of stuffed animals as a child. My husband is also an amateur photographer, focusing mostly on nature photography. I like nature photography, especially when we're out west, but I also like to take pictures of people. We got a new camera (a Canon Eos XSI) shortly before my daughter was born, which I use not nearly enough these days.

My husband's making fun of me for not including a picture of me "doing something cool," so here's a picture of me with a very friendly lizard: