all about thryn and then some...

thryn - is short for Kathryn. I got "labeled" by some co-workers at an old job once and it stuck. I wasn't too fond of it at first, but it grew on me and has become a defining element of my uniqueness :-)

I grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii in a small place called Pahoa. If you ever go there - you should try a Lilikoi margarita at Luquin's. YUM! We spent a lot of time at the beach and used to swim with sea turtles. The volcano going off was common-place and is still fascinating to me after all these years. Being able to watch a force of nature like that is simply unreal. I thoroughly enjoy my time at home whenever I can get there.

How did I get to be a shutterbug? I picked up the interest again after my father passed away. It seemed to be great grief therapy. My father had been one of my biggest influences in photography and he photographed a lot of wonderful places and things in Hawaii as well as a few places here on the mainland. He loved the outdoors and his photographic works reflect a wonderful respect for nature. I hope to continue that with my own work. I attribute my creative side greatly to my Mom.

I love to spend my time outdoors and it lends itself well to the photographic medium. Being outdoors and photographing allows me to escape a few stresses in life. I often sacrifice some weight in my pack just so I can take my gear with me. You never know what you might find out in the mountains. I never know what I might discover when I'm out and it's usually something new and exciting. Photographing allows me to be observant and enjoy some of the smallest and simplest things in life. Try it sometime - you'll find how meditative it can be. The hills tend to be my "church".

I've had some pretty remarkable experiences in my life and they've all given me an enormous amount of perseverance over the years. You learn a lot about who you are and what you're capable of when the universe decides to throw a few things on your plate.

I've done some pretty exciting things - bungee jumped in B.C. Canada, went rock climbing with the British Military, drove around the country for 2 months in a big Ford F-250 (try driving that in NY!), crashed my car underneath a semi that jack-knifed on the ice in a snowstorm, and in 2003 I went back to school to finish my BAl. I graduated in April 2005 with a BA in Digital Arts. I've been pursuing my passion in photography, and have developed quite the taste for film and storytelling as well.

In general, I'm a pretty motivated person and definitely driven at the moment. My hard work is starting to pay off (lots of long sleepless nights) and will hopefully pay off well in the future. I've been called a maniac and a bit crazy, but hey - life's too short. You gotta do what you gotta do and if being passionate about the things that are most important to you means lots of happiness... so be it :-)

Faves - here are just a few of my favorite things and things I like to do.

*Photography - hmmm... I think you guessed that already.*My Mom and her famous Lilikoi Chiffon Pie. My Mom is definitely the best (even without the pie!). *Rock Climbing, camping, backpacking (even though I haven't been for awhile). *Thai Food (Two of my favorite places in Seattle are the Bahn Thai and Chinoise) *Mount Everest Restaurant in Denver - Nepalese Food - sadly, it's no longer there :-(. *My friends (they know who they are)... REI and Marmot - I won't elaborate. My closet speaks for itself. *Road trips - who doesn't enjoy a nice road trip? *Dogs - I miss mine. *Blue - and a few other cool colors. *My IS Manager - he keeps my server running like no one else! *Bobby's Hawaiian Restaurant - in Everett. Apple Computer - I'm an addict. *Watching the stars - and looking for satellites on a clear night. *A nice sunset - with my toes in the sand. Preferrably at home in Hawaii. *My brother - I'd better not forget him!