04/22/2026
Some people believe life gives you signs. I left Portland in 2023 and moved to Eugene for what was supposed to be a dream photography job. Six months in, I knew I couldn’t stay. For the next year and a half I contemplated resigning but just couldn’t push myself to. My family was so proud I was making six figures doing something I loved, but deep inside, my soul was crying for change. At the beginning of this year it seems my prayers were heard. As fate would have it, the company suddenly and without notice eliminated mine and the positions of over 30 photographers throughout the nation, including some of our very best. Within the mix of emotions, one stood out very clearly… relief. The next day I decided to decompress and take a trip out to Florence to explore the sand dunes. I had heard rumors of a rare owl in the area but no one had seen it that day. I walked about a half mile down the dunes and as I was about to turn around, spotted a bright white dot atop the grass in the distance. Crouching, I slowly approached, using the high sand as cover. Around 150 yards away I popped my camera lens up through the tall grass and found this rare and beautiful sight. I observed it from cover for about 20 minutes and captured these images of this beautiful snowy owl as it slept, preened and basked in the afternoon sun. Finding this amazing creature put my heart at ease. Let me know if you believe in signs and what you think this meant.
