At first it was my phone. Over time I started paying more attention, taking more photos, and eventually taking it seriously. I bought a Sony A6700. I started going on trips with photography in mind, not just as something that happened along the way.
But the truth is, my best photos still come when I'm out there for the experience first. That's not something I'm trying to change.
I care about landscapes, but more than that, I care about the moments inside them. The glance into a neighboring ravine. The tired smile after pushing up a scree field. That mix of exhaustion and pride when someone knows they actually earned where they're standing.
The beer after a hike, whether it's in a parking lot or a local bar. I try to capture those without getting in the way. Let the moment stay real. Let it belong to the people in it.
The reason I keep going back out is simple. I love it.
Fresh air. A cool breeze. Birds overhead. That feeling of time slowing down a bit. The physical effort. The quiet. And then, if you're lucky, a couple of views that make the whole thing worth it.
That's usually enough.
Out there with a camera, trying to bring the feeling back.