MPA: Why do you love photography?

I love that photography has both a technical and an artistic side to it. I naturally gravitate towards the technical elements (being an engineer) of both the gear and the process of composition. I’ve enjoyed learning about what elements contribute to a good composition. I find it interesting as to how precise camera placement needs to be for things like architectural photography where exact symmetry can make or break a photo.

MPA: Your favorite thing about MPA?

It has to be the people I’ve met and adventures I’ve had. Through our travels with MPA, I’ve made some incredible new friends Travelling with MPA takes much of the worry out of visiting places I’ve never been to before.Their local contacts help arrange experiences and locations that would be difficult to find on your own. For example, we just returned from the Mongolia trip which was amazing and quite unique. I would never have experienced these if I had to arrange the details myself.

MPA: Your favorite thing about Photo Enthusiast Network?

Interacting with other photographers and direct access to the instructors. I also find the critiques and monthly competitions to be helpful. It’s always informative (and sometimes humbling) to get unvarnished feedback from knowledgeable but unbiased people.

MPA: Your favorite trip or course with MPA?

Mongolia and Alaska

MPA: Your aspirations as a photographer/artist?

Photography is a fun hobby and it would ruin it for me to try to turn it into a money making thing. I want to continue to work on developing my artistic skills which don’t come naturally for me. I also have a few types of photography that I’d like to explore such as infrared photography.

MPA: Where do you look forward to traveling next?

Right now we have a couple of trips booked that I’m looking forward to. The Southwest tour looks to be an amazing trip around a part of the county that I’ve not spent much time in. We’re also booked on the Kodiak tour next year with some of our new MPA friends. Should be both really fun and have some amazing sights. I’d also like to do the Albuquerque balloon festival one day.

MPA: Anything else you would like to share about your work?

I‘m on Instagram at pat.coddington but probably need to get better about posting regularly. Another aspiration I guess…