Most nature photographers wander off the beaten path to capture the perfect shot. Paul Hedlund barely leaves North Seattle.
"Most of my pictures are taken within a two-mile radius," he tells me as we stand outside the U-District Trader Joe's. He shows me a small collection of his work: a radiant beam of sunlight peaking through evergreen treetops, a vivid close-up of mushroom caps after a rain shower, a detailed portrait of a spider weaving its web. The colors in each photograph are so striking that it's hard to imagine they are merely scenes from around the neighborhood.
But they are: Paul has a keen eye. He used to be a professional photographer back East -- he shot weddings and special events. He worked in a photo studio for several years, and even had his own darkroom.
Now, when he's not selling "Real Change," he's getting back into it -- but this time with digital technology. His goal: to start his own photography business.
"It took me a while to get sold on digital," he comments -- a subject of intense debate among experienced photographers and enthusiasts alike. But he eventually came around, if not for quality, for convenience: "I do like the ability to manipulate the image."
Paul currently is working on a calendar of photos taken at Ravenna Park. He plans to use his earnings from "Real Change" to get his business off the ground, and he couldn't do it without the support of his loyal customers at the University District Trader Joe's.
"I love my customers," he says. "They help me get through the day."
To his customers and "Real Change" staff he says, "Thank you for giving me the chance to make a bit of a living."