About

Cheryl’s Journal is my personal nature journal sharing the beauty and wonder of nature through photography, as well as the stories behind the photos and the musings that come to me along the way.

Welcome,

I thought I’d start by sharing a bit of who I am and why I started this journal. I’m a nature photographer living in Aromas, on the Central Coast of California; as well as an amateur astrophotographer. But I’m much more than that, we all are.

I was a ballerina on stage in my younger years and from my late twenties into my late forties I was a cowgirl on a large acreage cattle ranch. Along the way, both before, and after, the ranch work, I worked in a variety of places such as veterinary hospitals, horse stables, dog kennels and more.

I never faired well working indoors so those jobs didn’t last long, but I’m grateful for the experience and I’ve met some wonderful people along the way. As a child I had more animal friends than human ones and as an adult that hasn’t changed.

After years of working on the ranch it was time to make some decisions and it wasn’t easy. I’d been hard on my body with the work I’d done, had a couple of health issues and injuries, some trauma to work through, lost precious people (and many animals) in my life and more; it was time for change.

I felt lost at the time. Then, one day my husband bought a camera for himself, used it once, set it down and never picked it up again. A few months later I picked it up and I just knew. It felt right, natural; like an extension of both my arm and my very soul.

I didn’t need any further confirmation but it came anyway as I was going through some old boxes in my closet. There I found some paperwork from photography and zoology classes I had taken in an MGM program back in the late 1960’s-1970’s. Animals, nature, fresh air and the night sky had never left me, it is who I am; and now, photography was back in my hands – and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

It was also during that time while I was waiting for a surgery, that my husband noticed how often I went outside in the middle of the night under the stars to find my peace and he surprised me with my first telescope; and eventually, my own little observatory on our property.

I’ve upgraded and expanded along the way as I’ve grown and continue to do so. When I say amateur astrophotographer I do mean that, haha; but I will never forget the look on his face and the joy in my heart with that first telescope. And just …wow, how beautiful our universe/nature is!

I love rabbit holes of knowledge and have studied a wide variety of subjects both formal and informal. I’m a Star Trek fan, love my research books and enjoy a little online gaming from time to time; but hugely, I just want to be in the quiet beauty of nature, spend time with my animals (and my husband) or alone under the night sky with the stars.

I don’t travel far and wide, it’s just not my thing and there is so much to see, enjoy and experience right here; but I love loading up my equipment and heading to the coast for mini day trips. I also love sharing the beauty of it all with others; and the stories that go with them.

When I’m not out and about, I can be found right here at home meandering our property, camera in hand, capturing pretty much anything in nature that gets my attention and moves my heart.