I fell in love with photography when I took my first DSLR on its inaugural joyride in Alicante, Spain and throughout Europe for a semester in college. ¡Sí, hablo español! Eventually. I realized I had an eye for nature photography with an exceptional love of macros and portraiture.  Photography is, in a way, my nirvana. Through a lens I am blissfully able to lose track of time and the world around me. I received a Bachelor's of Art and Design in Art Education and Photography with two minors in Spanish and Psychology from Iowa State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with Honors.   A little more than two years later, I received my master's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri St. Louis. When I am not taking photos, I am an elementary art teacher. Sam the Frog has been my classroom pet for the past 5 years. What started as a annual holiday card for my students has transformed into hundreds of "Hoppy" Holiday postcards and now a calendar.