Tula Top

Warmest (and sometimes wettest) greetings from Portland, Oregon, USA, an urban oasis in an endless sea of natural wonders.

I’m a full-time physician with a part-time obsession, though sometimes I get the two mixed up. I picked up photography as an offshoot from my interest in aquascaping, and while the latter’s fallen by the wayside because of the inordinate amount of daily attention (and prune fingers) it demands, the former’s only picked up steam with time.

As someone who use to do some fairly well-received pencil drawing (waaay back in the days when I had the time and patience), photography’s become my favored form of artistic expression. As time’s gone on, I’ve come to appreciate the many parallels I see between my practice in photography and my practice in hospice and palliative medicine. As important as it is to have a firm grounding in the science of either pursuit, I’ve learned that it’s the art of judgment and expression that tends to have the most profound impact on people. It’s about shifting perspectives and finding grace and beauty in situations where none was noticed or even seemed possible before. It’s learning when it’s more poignant to focus on the trees and when it’s better to see the forest as a whole. But above all, it’s about the power of sharing visions and stories and the emotions they conjure.

The demands of medical training and now career has kept me from pursuing any formal training in photography, so I’ve had to research, observe, read, and most of all practice practice practice to avoid feeling like a hack (which I still sometimes wonder about…). I feel llike I’m perpetually running to catch up, a sense that’s only worsened (in a good way) with being endlessly wowed by all the talent on display here at RedBubble. You folks here are amazing, and I’m honored and flattered by your visit and every watchlist add, comment, and fave (and hopefully sale or two down the road…I’ve got med school loans to pay back!…) I’ve had the pleasure of learning about.

Cheers and thanks to all in advance!

Tula