A Tucson amateur photographer has won the grand prize in the National Geographic/Nikon Full Story Contest for photos he took in Altar Valley.
Brian Powell, 42, left Friday for a photo expedition on the Galápagos Islands with National Geographic.
The Star caught up with him for a few minutes at his job as a sustainability and conservation program coordinator for Pima County.
Q: You've been an avid photographer since age 13. Is nature your favorite subject?
A: "It is. That's kind of where I like to go, get out in nature and spend some time by myself taking photographs. It serves a dual purpose of being in nature and having some quiet time."
Q: How did you come up with the idea for your winning entry, "A Test of Resiliency: Land and Ranchers in Arizona's Borderlands"?
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A: "In my work through the county, I've sort of gained an appreciation and interest (for the area) and in taking this photo contest as an opportunity to get to know these folks. I live in Tucson, I work in Tucson, and I get out to some of these areas for recreation, but I don't really know some of these folks who work on the ground. So I wanted to get to know them. ... And any time you get to know them, you hear their stories, you get invested in who they are and take a personal interest in it."
Q: What essentials are in your bag when you take photos around Tucson?
A: "Besides a camera, I love wide angle (lenses). I'm kind of a wide-angle junkie. More than the camera, it's attitude and being open to serendipity and possibility. If I have just one lens on my camera that's the one I try to make the most of."
Q: Film, digital or smartphone?
A: "Digital. There was a magic to (the darkroom), but the reality of my life is I don't have time for that or space for chemicals."
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Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@azstarnet.com or 573-4346.
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