Wild Beginnings

My name is Mike Kitchen and in this book I invite you to experience the exciting beginnings of my Photography journey!

My wife and I are avid travelers and get to see some wonderful things. A few years ago we took a summer job in Colorado. We stopped in a place called Lyons Gulch to camp for a week and get acclimated to the change in altitude before continuing on into the Indian Peaks Wilderness near the Continental Divide. Every evening I would gaze out the picture window, reflecting on the tranquil setting overlooking the Colorado River, while enjoying a hot cup of coffee. And at about 5pm I would always be treated to a truly a magnificent sight, a beautiful Bald Eagle soaring back to its roost for the night. One evening I saw him at a distance, on his way toward

me. I bolted out the door with cell phone in hand, quickly fumbling for the camera."Awesome, there he is!" I exclaimed. I snapped multiple pictures and then watched as he disappeared off into the night down the river. "This is going to be great!" I thought to myself. I sat back down, opened my gallery, and was instantly horrified. My majestic Eagle looked like nothing but a small black dot on the phone screen. I was FURIOUS. "We are getting a real freaking camera, these pictures suck!" I exclaimed to my wife. I got to work at Brainard Lake Recreation Area, which was teeming with wildlife. Payday came and I immediately headed into town to look at cameras. We stopped at a local pawn shop to check out their selection. There through the door, directly in front of me as though fate had been listening, the camera case. All of the cameras in the case were the small point and shoot box store types, except one. It was a Canon Xsi, with a case and five lenses. "How much is this one?" I asked the clerk. "Two hundred fifty dollars", he replied. "Would you take two hundred even"? The clerk went to the back office to clear the offer with his manager. They accepted and I walked out with my very first camera. Over the following days I absolutely fell in love with photography.

This book reflects that stage of my life and the amazing opportunities that even short walks can give you. I hope that you are inspired to go outside and see the wild all around you. Reconnect with nature, she is waiting. Bring a camera, though, so you can share it with the rest of us. Thank you so much for your support of me and my dream.

If you would like to reach out, you can find me on: Instagram @mike_kitchen_officialFacebook @mikekitchen