Thank you for following my journey—it means so much to me. Today, I’d like to take you back to the beginning, to share how I got here as a wildlife photographer.
Growing up as the youngest of four, people would assume I had it easy as the “baby” of the family, but it didn’t always feel that way. My nine-year-older brother’s worn-out hand-me-downs were my reality, and I was often left in the dark on things because I was “too young.” Yet, those experiences taught me resilience. When my brother and I played football, it became clear I couldn’t match his strength and speed, so I set out to carve my own path. I shifted my focus to baseball and BMX—my own pursuits where I could excel on my terms.
My childhood revolved around my family’s farming and hunting roots in a small town. Our bubble was all about family and hard work. Weekends were spent on my grandfather’s dairy farm, helping milk cows, plant crops, and learn about the value of working with your hands. It wasn’t glamorous, but those experiences gave me a self-sufficiency that I’m grateful for now.
If you’re wondering how farming and hunting connect with wildlife photography—there’s a deep answer. Hunting was more than a skill in our family; it was a tradition. As I got older, I loved the camaraderie of hunting with my dad and brother, but I eventually decided to hang up the gun. I found a different kind of respect for wildlife that didn’t involve hunting.
Above is a picture of my Grandfather, Earl Casbohm with a nice buck he harvested near the farm.
In college, I studied art and took my first photography and design courses. I didn’t realize then that photography would become my passion years later, but I was hooked. Travel also became a big part of my life after an unforgettable trip to Germany at 19. I was drawn to new places and perspectives—a contrast to my family’s life in a town of just 2,000 people. I wanted to see the world beyond that.
After college, I moved to Pittsburgh, then Philadelphia, adapting to “city life” in ways I never imagined. But I missed nature. By 2019, I took a big leap and moved to Colorado to be closer to the mountains. The COVID-19 pandemic hit soon after, bringing challenges and a lot of soul-searching. In the midst of it, I invested in my dream gear: the Sony A7R III mirrorless camera and a 70-200mm telephoto lens. I was finally on my path as a wildlife photographer.
My first trips to Moab and Rocky Mountain National Park taught me that I needed more reach, so I traded my 200mm lens for a 100-400mm. For the last three years, this setup has been my trusted companion. I’m looking to add the Sony A1 and a 400mm prime to my kit soon, but getting here took patience, trial and error, and hours of learning both in the field and through “YouTube University.”
Wildlife photography is filled with challenges—birds alone have nearly driven me to pull my hair out! But I feel at home every time I pick up my camera, more confident with each shot. I’m now part of an amazing community of photographers who travel together to capture the untold stories of our planet’s wildlife.
Thank you for reading my story. I hope to inspire others, share what I’ve learned, and maybe even cross paths in the field someday. Until then, here’s to the wild places and the wildlife that make this journey so incredible.
Best, Adam
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