We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Noah Westbrook. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Noah below.

Noah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In May of 2021, I graduated college with a degree in Business. I had no clue what I wanted to do, but I knew one thing. I couldn’t sit behind a desk all day. My whole life I have had a passion for wildlife, especially mammals. That can be challenging when you live in Maryland, where whitetail deer are the largest animal around. I took a leap of faith and travelled across the country to Yellowstone National Park for a summer job. I didn’t know anyone, didn’t know what to expect, and turned down a career position that paid substantially more to do so. That summer completed altered my life trajectory and what I thought was possible. It also caused me to re-prioritized what was important in my life for the better.

Noah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My love of animals turned into a passion for photographing wildlife. Once my summer in Yellowstone ended, I went back home to Maryland, thinking maybe my adventurous curiosity had been fulfilled… A few months later I found myself in Denali National Park, Alaska. From Alaska, I travelled to Colorado, back to Yellowstone, to where I write this now in New Zealand! Every adventure I go on I get the opportunity to capture God’s creation through the lens of a camera. I sell printing of my photographs on my website, but mainly I want to show others how magnificent these animals are. Show that they are not just something you may have seen on a National Geographic documentary, but real creatures that need our protection and respect. My biggest achievement is that I have made my friends and family proud of what I do. My life is very unconventional, and what I do isn’t for most. However, the support of the ones I love is what keeps me chasing my dreams.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One of the biggest challenges creative people face against those who may not understand is exactly that. They do not understand, and that is okay. It can be challenging to see the path of someone who is making their own way. Growing up, most people are encouraged to go into careers such as business, medical industry, public services, etc. That is great! Typically, we get funneled into these roles because there is a clear step by step, A to B path that can be followed. From the outside, I can tell if someone is close to becoming a nurse if they are one year away from graduating, but how are you supposed to know if someone is “close” to becoming a successful artist? The path to what I do is not linear and the measurement for success is undefined. The best thing you can do if you are someone who doesn’t understand your creative friend or family member is to encourage them when they fail. For those who are creative and struggle finding the courage to continue this journey, keep going. As the years have gone on, many of the people who questioned the path I was taking now tell me they wish they had the courage to take risks like I do. Just because it is the unconventional path, does not mean it is the wrong one.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To me, the most rewarding aspect of being a photographer is getting my viewers to see God’s beauty through my images. When I take photos of nature I don’t just see what is in front of me. I see a creator who uniquely and intentionally made it with love. For me, when I spend time with nature, I find myself spending time with Jesus. I don’t want to just take pictures of animals. I want to tell the story of Christ’s love through the beauty he has given us all across this planet. His love is in all things, we just have to take the time to see it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.noahwestbrook.com
• Instagram: @noahwestbrook.photography
• Facebook: @noahwestbrook.photography
• Youtube: @noahwestbrook.photography

Image Credits
All images are my own