Artist Statement I’ve always loved the magic of photography! Since a kid it has been a life-long hobby that has evolved with my life experiences as I seek out the beauty and wonders of nature, and the many surprises along the way. I have always had a deep reverence and appreciation for the Earth, from the many spectacular places that most of us visit only once, to the common places just outside our door, or a short distance away. The dramatic vistas of the land, the magnificent oceans and meandering rivers, the simple beauty of a quiet lake or meadow shrouded in mist or the rugged coastline bathed in enchanted moonlight; magic is all around us! Being in nature and observing her countless miracles connects you with this Earth and is a source of endless curiosity and inspiration. It enriches my life! My art is my vision of nature through photography and allows me to share with others this magical world in which we live. My hope is that these images might bring to you that same sense of joy and wonder, and might, in some small way, touch you. Biography Born in southern Illinois in 1948, Daniel Owens spent his early years exploring the wooded hills and prairies in and around the Shawnee National Forest. In high school he took many photographs that were published in the school’s Year Books and helped to organize the school’s first Photography Club. He served for three years in the U.S. Navy and later, served in excess of a decade in law enforcement as a police officer in his boyhood hometown. He was a deputy sheriff in Franklin County and a deputy U.S. marshal in the southern district of Illinois. Owens received special training in crime scene photography, utilizing it to obtain and document evidence in investigations. Tiring of the red lights and sirens, he returned to college and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, Training and Development at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Moving to northern Illinois, he has continued to develop his photographic skills and has begun to sell his art at local art shows and festivals, and exhibits in local galleries. His artwork has been published in books and local newspapers and appears in private collections across the United States and Europe.