Photo by Josh Lukman

Hometown: Ocala, Florida

Current Residence: Gainesville, Florida

Current Occupation: Staff Photographer, Fredric G. Levin College of Law, University of Florida

BIO

It's hard to write an autobiography of any kind because it's hard to focus on one thing. I have so many interests and skills.

I became fascinated with the realm of meteorology when I was nine years old, and was bugged by the fact that it kept raining in the hot, Florida summer afternoons. I wanted to know why that happened. I watched the weather on TV and craved knowledge so I could understand why. Before I knew it, I was hooked. Since then, I have been self-taught and lectured to regarding this "blanket" that covers our planet. I've also attempted to keep myself busy and interested including Skywarn storm spotting using amateur radio and other means, forecasting for the weather section in the Independent Florida Alligator, forecasting the weather for Gainesville on a near-daily basis, and working on a Climatology and Meteorology Certificate at the University of Florida. I am also a student member of the American Meteorological Society and a member of the UF club.

At a young age, I also became interested in the world of journalism and communications. It started with my high school newspaper as a writer as well as taking a class in television productions. I would eventually evolve from writing in high school to writing and photojournalism in community college at their newspaper, The Patriot Press. When I attended the University of Florida, I found my niche in photography and multimedia. I was a photographer at the Alligator and was a photo/multimedia editor for two semesters (non-consecutive).I had to chance to do a photo internship at The Gainesville Sun for a semester. I am currently using the skills obtained as a staff photographer at the UF College of Law communications office.

I have graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geography from UF with a Certificate in Climatology and Meteorology in May 2010. I will be at Mississippi State University in August 2010 to begin working on a masters in atmospheric sciences. I also want to focus my photographic and multimedia skills more on documenting extreme weather events via both still photography and video.

Besides weather and photography, I have an interest in political science, history, technology and science, amateur ("ham") radio and communications, and technology. I see myself as a well-rounded individual. I live in southwest Gainesville with a black lab, Opie, and a cat, Moo.