When adventure photographer Bill Hatcher graduated from high school, he bought a 35-millimeter camera and some color film.
"I ... really haven't stopped shooting since then," he says.
Hatcher became a full-time professional photographer at age 27. Since then, he has explored, with camera in hand, the world's wildest regions, photographing climbers, skiers, kayakers, and mountain bikers. His work has appeared in numerous U.S. and overseas publications, as well as on over 40 magazine covers.
Hatcher says his interest in photography was first piqued by his grandfather, Jim Miller, a newspaperman and photojournalist. What has kept him interested is, among other things, the uniqueness of each photo assignment.
"When I am on a shoot I never know what will happen from one moment to the next," he says. "Every experience is fresh and new."
Hatcher says his photography has evolved from looking for that single great shot with good light and high action to capturing the bigger story with photos. What sets Hatcher apart is the action and adventure subjects he shoots.
"To shoot adventure photos requires me to be both a photographer and participant," he says. He lists rock climbing, mountain biking, river running, skiing, and mountaineering among his professional skills. "Theses stories would not be told if I was not there to capture the images."
