About James

James HIll at the tender young age of 33

First and foremost, I love my God and my family.  I also love motorcycles, music, dancing, snow skiing, traveling, poker, rock climbing, building/creating things, watching my kids be kids, scuba diving, working out, running, and last but not least—–Being a pain in the BUM to Michee!!!!!!

My relationship to photography is love/hate.  Michee bought me my first camera around 1997.  It was a dinky canon rebel.  I’ve since come to my senses and now shoot Nikon.  Many times I have walked away from photography vowing never to return.  Fortunately, I have an addictive personality and I couldn’t stay away long.  I wish I had all the accolades of an accomplished educated photographer with awesome degrees, but in all honesty, I went to the school of hard knocks.  I remember many of a day sitting in the book store reading everything I could find.  Then taking what I learned from books and applying it.  The learning curve was HUGE and slow because I didn’t have anyone to answer my questions or mentor me.  In retrospect, school would have been much easier.  Upshot:  I still love shooting and hate when I don’t get what I was going for.

  • Movies:

I prefer documentary films.  I Love true stories.  Last film that moved me:    -Into the wild-

  • Inspiration:

I’m inspired by my kids!

  • My best day:

My best day would be peering down a long steep black diamond trail.  Situating my goggles, gripping my poles and dropping into a fresh powdery run that lasts so long you have to stop because your legs are on fire.  Nothing better than getting off a ski lift and feeling the ice cold wind slap you in the face.  It is so beautiful to be atop a snow capped mountain and seeing the deep blue sky contrasting the mountain line with snow covered trees all around you.  It takes my breath away every time.  The air feels so fresh and clean.

  • Foods:

Korean of course.  The spicier the better, give it to me in a jalapeño pepper and I’m fine.  Indian, Sushi, Mexican,  big fat juicy steaks..

  • Music:
I appreciate all types of music.  I just don’t listen to all types..  Typically, I listen to Reggae, Pop, Hip-Hop, Retro, Dance, Electronica, Trance, R&B/Soul, Rock, Punk, Funk, Alternative, & Classical

I dedicate these 2 songs by The Commodores to wife (Michee), my love, my smile, my breath, my heart..

The Commodores  Just to Be Close to You, Stuck on You

100 Bucket list:  Created September 24, 2008

  1. Walk on the moon- A dream is acceptable
  2. Fly in a fighterjet, as a passenger of course
  3. Weekend training course for motorcycle track riding
  4. Ski Whistler Mountain
  5. Try snowboarding
  6. Go heli-skiing
  7. Sky dive one more time  First time, Michee and I went on our Honeymoon Oct. 11 2000
  8. Base jump
  9. Run a Marathon  Well on my way!  Did my first half marathon February 14, 2008  finished 1:49:52  Did my 2nd half marathon November 27th 2008 finished 1:58:26 (not so good)       I RAN MY FIRST MARATHON.  Oct 25 2009 “Marine Corp Marathon”  Finished 4:06  I was shooting for 4 hours but missed it by 6 minutes.  Tons of training, thanks to my family for putting up with all the LONG RUNS.  You runners know what I’m talking about.
  10. Run to the top of the Statue of Liberty. Steps to crown: 354 steps (22 stories)  If it doesn’t reopen, then the Empire State Building
  11. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits
  12. Ride a bull for 8 seconds
  13. Visit The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights
  14. Visit The Great Wall of China
  15. Visit The Colosseum in Rome
  16. Scuba dive in The Great Barrier Reef
  17. Visit Old City of Jerusalem
  18. Play in a poker tournament, either Vegas or Atlantic City
  19. Go on one more mountain hiking trip with the guys.
  20. Be the best man in another wedding
  21. Finish building my house, get a C.O.
  22. Mentor a troubled teen, provide better paths than the ones I chose.
  23. Find someone to mentor me
  24. Vote
  25. Read 6 books in a year, other than photography.
  26. Read the entire bible
  27. Organize the garage
  28. Donate to a charity  Donated to the Atlanta food bank through a Halloween charity drive in October 2008.  Filled the barrel(ginormous) full and then some thanks to all the participants and the Decatur High School. Donated again to the Toys for Tots through a Narnia Xmas set in December 2008.  It was a HUGE SUCCESS!  We gathered TONS of toys.  It was REALLY AWESOME!!  Thanks everyone who donated!  So many little kids will always remember Xmas 2008..
  29. Workout in the early morning for a whole month
  30. Grow a garden
  31. Give my mother a dozen roses and tell her I love her
  32. Give my wife a dozen roses and tell her I love her, and not when I’m in trouble!
  33. Try Caviar  Tried it and loved it!  Oct. 25 2009
  34. Memorize a poem and pass it along
  35. Ask someone to take part in one of my top 20 bucket list items.
  36. Witness something amazing and tell about it
  37. Teach someone everything I know about photography.
  38. Take my family on a mission trip
  39. Take kids to Disney world August 8 2009 the family booked a shoot with Amtrak in Florida, so we turned it into an opportunity to vacation as well.  Paid to vacation, can’t beat it..