While on my honeymoon (many, many years ago) in Belize, my husband and I each held a tarantula. We took turns photographing one another holding the spider. After developing the film (it really was many, many years ago) my husband was so disappointed in the photo I had taken of him, I however, was thrilled. He was mad because I had zoomed in on the actual spider and neglected to include any part of my husband, except for maybe a small portion of his hand which served as the background behind the spider. I was thrilled with my photo because I had captured the different textures, patterns, color variations, and shapes that made up the tarantula. I have always enjoyed seeing the world up close. I enjoy capturing moments of minimalism found in both the natural as well as the unnatural world. Sometimes it is the interaction between these two worlds that I’m drawn to; sometimes it is the way nature interacts with itself. I am mesmerized by tiny details and imperfections that make each object unique. By focusing on the smaller parts of the whole I enjoy a moment of zen from the otherwise chaotic life as a mother of three children, one large dog, and a gerbil.