Since my teens, photography had been much more than a casual pursuit. I was pretty consumed by the process and had always hoped to one day parlay it into something far beyond an expensive hobby. My attempts to develop photography into a business, however, became frustrating and utterly unfulfilling. I was not cut out to be a wedding photographer, nor did I have patience for corralling kids, parents and dogs for portraits on the beach. I needed to find a niche.

Fortunately, I had a unique situation. I had a pretty cool day job that paid the bills, so I was able to be selective about what I photographed. I was a career cop and a helicopter pilot for a big Southern California law enforcement agency. We had a fleet of nine shiny, well maintained helicopters, a beat of over 4,200 square miles, a diverse mission and freedom to roam. What's not to love?

"Do what you love and love what you do," is a mantra I still strive to adhere to. I loved my flying job but photography remained an equally important interest. I continued shooting but it remained largely unfulfilling and my work lacked any real inspiration.

Then one day a good friend and a photographer I respected suggested I might explore a very natural nexus that existed between both of my interests: flying and photography. Of course! I had the perfect situation.

I began to photograph company aircraft in flight during routine patrol missions. I shot seemingly countless rolls of film. And, early on, I filled trash cans with more than my share of blurry, out-of-focus or poorly composed images. But I was persistent, and most importantly, I was having fun with my camera.

Before long the rate of keepers increased. Capturing what I believed were good images had become a much more of a predictable proposition. I began to build a mental database of how to best set up shots and the techniques I needed to use to capture what I wanted. Other local operators began seeking out me out for images of their aircraft. Throughout, I managed to build a respectable portfolio and continued to seek an avenue to market my images.

About the same time, a couple of publishers were emerging who had their eye on the helicopter industry. These publishers showed a significant interest in my work but they had deeper needs. While my images were marketable, they had limited appeal. They suggested I consider writing articles to accompany the photos. Thankfully, writing was something that came pretty easily to me. So I decided to give it a shot.

Fast-forward to Heli-Expo 2004 where I met Mike and Linda Reyno from Vertical Magazine in person. I was already a huge fan of Vertical, which was entering its second year of publication. The magazine had already attained a respected reputation in the industry and I had looked to Mike's amazing air-to-air photography as a source of inspiration.

Mike and Linda were aware of a couple articles that had been published in another magazine and we had exchanged emails regarding their minor image needs. We had a brief but engaging conversation. It was nice to finally put faces and personalities with names. The shocker for me, however, was at the end of our chat, when they opened the door to me joining the Vertical team.

Over the past six years, my experience with Vertical has been nothing short of a wonderful, eye-opening ride. I've had an opportunity to experience so many interesting facets of the helicopter industry, meet some amazing people and develop lasting friendships. I've grown as a journalist and as a helicopter professional. As a photographer, it has been nothing short of incredible. I've appreciated every opportunity that has come my way and all the many lessons learned.

But more importantly, I sincerely hope my contributions to Vertical have been, and will continue to be, a positive and informative influence on our industry.