I proudly served in the United States Coast Guard for 20 years. During those years, I spent most of my time away from home in the southern hemisphere fighting the drug wars that so often threatened our borders. I have since then retired from service and enjoy life as a family man and professional photographer. But, it was during my years of service to the country that I developed a knack for photography that morphed into a professional career.
Duane Michals once stated, “either you are defined by your medium or you must redefine it.” Not long ago while seeking ways to do just that, I discovered aerial photography. It was in the sky that I was introduced to a whole new plane for art. The geometric lines created by the earth all leading to a distant sunrise captivated me. I find myself awake hours before the sunrise to reach locations I could photograph just as the sun breaks the horizon. By the time I return home after hours of photographing, I have already put in a full day as members of my family are just getting up to begin theirs.
Aerial photography has not only redefined my medium, but it has shaped me as an artist. While stuck on the ground, I can’t help but look at parts of the world and imagine what it must look like from the sky. I am constantly living in a birds eye view and find myself taking to the skies seeking a different interpretation of what lies beneath my feet.
KC Knoop
KC Knoop Photography