Don’s Breathtaking Retirement
PHOTOGRAPHING THE UNTOUCHED CORNERS OF OUR WORLD
Don Grall worked as a pharmacist for nearly 40
years before retiring. He and his wife, Janet, have always been avid travelers with good saving habits to supplement their hobby, but Don decided to go back to work part time for some reassurance. “I took the dead-of-night shift, which was great because that meant I could spend my days doing other things I loved,” Don says. But during his last year working the night shift, Don was held up at gunpoint on three separate
people things they haven’t seen before. So I make a point of going to places that aren’t on most people’s top 10 travel lists.”
As it has for many, COVID-19 threw a wrench in their recent travel plans. Luckily, Don has become really adept at finding beauty in his backyard. “Our house borders the Pike National Forest, so every day, I’ve been hiking through it and getting a full plate of photography. We even have wildlife that visits our backyard, including bears.” Landscape photography has become Don’s passion. “It’s really special because most people don’t see it for what it is,” he explains. “It’s a lot more than being in the right place at the right time. About 90% of capturing the perfect shot is about tuning in to what’s going on between your ears. You have to understand the light and composition of the moment and know your camera and photography concepts very well. You could have a dozen photographers in the same place at the same time, taking the same photo, and only one of them could emerge with an outstanding shot. I love photography because it’s taught me how to see the world as the beautiful place that it is.”
occasions. “When you’ve had a gun pointed at your chest, you gain some perspective,” he admits. “Life is too short, and enough was enough.” Now, he and his wife fill their days with travel so Don can do as much kayaking and nature photography as possible. Don’s love for photography arose from his passion for kayaking. “Back when I started in the ‘70s, very few people were into the sport,” he says. “It was so new that I had to make a lot of my equipment. I built my kayak, and Janet sewed waterproof gear for me.” He’s since kayaked rivers all across the U.S., South America, and beyond. That means he’s had the opportunity to photograph some incredible places too. “Kayaking wilderness rivers gives you access to places that most people have never seen,” he explains. “It only made sense to start snapping pictures of these untouched parts of the world.”
Opportunity is really what you make of it, and Don makes the most of every moment, no matter how close or far he’s able to travel.
He and Janet have visited over 45 U.S. national parks and have explored the wilderness of dozens of countries like Iceland, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Argentina, the South Georgia Islands, and the Falkland Islands. They’ve even stepped foot on Antarctica to chase down emperor penguins. But they’ve never been to a lot of common travel locations, like Hawaii. That may seem strange to some, but to Don, it makes perfect sense. “My goal with photography is to show
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