When I was in the 8th grade, I placed third in a national photo contest put on by Fuji for young photographers. The assignment was to take a photo and write a brief paragraph of what I believed would be the best way to portray Earth to an alien. I submitted this photo http://www.pbase.com/kevlarpics/image/46179742 that I took in Yellowstone National Park, the summer after the firestorm of 1988. In my paragraph, I spoke to the beauty, resiliency and diversity that our planet offers. I took third place in the contest and won a new camera. The idea of the contest has always stuck with me and has contributed to the creation of my first book.

This 8X8 inch hardbound book is filled with some of my favorite photography and tells a story of the "Elements" that make up our world. The writing is simple yet poetic and can be enjoyed by beginner readers as well as adults. $35 (including shipping)