Summary

Timothy Key, a non-camera-owning writer, humorously reflects on his top writer status in Photography on Medium, showcasing his iPhone-captured images to justify the accolade.

Abstract

Timothy Key has been recognized as a top writer in Photography on Medium, despite not owning a traditional camera. He attributes his success to the photography tag he used on his articles, which were initially intended for a different category. Key shares a collection of photos taken with his iPhone over the past nine months, including stunning landscapes and personal travel experiences. These images range from local neighborhood sunrises to more exotic locations like Revelstoke, British Columbia, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He also promotes his vacation home in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and provides links to other articles he has written, inviting readers to explore more of his work.

Opinions

Key acknowledges the irony of his top writer status in Photography without owning a camera, suggesting a tongue-in-cheek approach to the award.
He expresses admiration for a local photographer who is equipped with professional gear, implying that the photographer might be more deserving of the recognition.
The author shows self-awareness and humor by suggesting he should be a top writer in "Nagging writers about photo captions" instead.
Key provides full disclosure about the potential financial benefit from readers' stays at his vacation home, indicating a sense of transparency and ethical consideration.
He expresses pride and satisfaction in the quality of the photos taken with his iPhone, which he feels justify his top writer status in Photography.

Photography

Look Ma, No Camera!

Or, how to become an expert without even trying

Looking east towards Cascade Mountains pre-sunrise. Photo by Author

This article is to celebrate my being awarded top writer status in Photography today. Yup, not a misprint.

And I don’t even own camera. Sure, there is one on my phone, but I suspect a “real” photographer might take some issue with that.

Since the beginning of stay-at-home orders here in my state, there has been a gentleman that walks down to the end of my street most days with a backpack full of photography gear. He looks a lot like this guy, except without the helmet:

Now, he is a real photographer without a doubt, and probably should be the one with top writer status.

Instead I am. Ironically, I didn’t even know / remember that I had used the Photography tag. There is a pretty fair chance that I was trying for “Photo” and that didn’t exist. And the reason I was trying to find photo was that I had written a couple of articles about captioning photos in stories.

By all rights I should maybe be a top writer in “Nagging writers about photo captions”, but I guess that isn’t one of the categories.

So, to sort of karmically balance out my award today, I am going to provide you with some photos that I did actually take in the last 9 months or so with my little iPhone. In no real particular order, I present:

Looking east towards Cascade Mountains; Mt. Pilchuck to right. Photo by Author

I like this one (above) for the orange colors of the higher clouds contrasted by the grays of the lower cloud cover. This is unaltered, but it almost looks like it has been retouched. Forgive the foreground, I had to stand in someone’s yard to get this one.

Taken this morning. Mt. Baker in the distance just after sunrise. Photo by Author

This one (above) I took this morning on my walk. The title photo and the one above this were also taken in the last few days while out walking around the neighborhood. I am having to leave earlier if I want to catch the sunrise these days.

Moving backward chronologically, here are two from my first ever helicopter skiing trip taken this February in Revelstoke British Columbia. The first is of the group finishing a run and prepping the landing site so the helicopter can land and pick us up:

Me in the foreground (orange coat), photo taken by another in our group. Photo courtesy of Author

The photo below is from this landing site as the helicopter comes in to pick us up:

Then here (below) is the view from the pool at The Salty Unicorn, our vacation home in Gulf Shores Alabama. We were there last October for the National Shrimp Festival and to chill out for a few days.

The first hyperlink above is to the Instagram account for our house and it has lots more pictures! And, yes, if you click on the link at the top of the account you will go to the rental site, and yes, if you reserve a spot and stay there I will get some income from that. So, full disclosure.

But, I do promise you that you will have a fantastic time in exchange for your dollars! We love it there.

Looking south towards beach at sunset in Gulf Shores, AL. Photo by Author

Then finally (below) a photo from our Honeymoon / family blending trip to Puerto Vallarta Mexico last September. We got there a few days earlier than all the kids, and this one was taken at sunset from the hotel balcony:

Looking west at sunset in Puerto Vallarta. Photo by Author

Okay, so that is it. Hopefully enough photography to help justify my top writer tag for at least a bit. I don’t want to be a poser.

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Timothy Key spent over 26 years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic and various fire chief management roles. He firmly believes that bad managers destroy more than companies, and good managers create a passion that is contagious. Compassion, grace and gratitude drive the world; or at least they should. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and join the mail list.