I am excited to be turning the page and starting a new chapter in my book.

As you may know, I am very passionate about photography.

Zach Sutton, a close friend of mine, lent me his Canon Rebel XSi to capture the total lunar eclipse that was coming up on October 8th, 2014.

That morning is really where it all began for me.

Since then, I have been able to bring to life so many ideas for creations that I’ve had and have been fortunate to photograph events like the Rose Bowl,

the Indianapolis 500,

and many more I could previously only have dreamt of attending.

I began at Purdue with every intention of earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering and continuing onto a career as an astronaut someday.

During my time here I have not only found myself, I have found what I truly love to do and that is to create.

My aspirations have changed from wanting to ride the first rocket to Mars, to making the most unforgettable photographs of those rockets leaving Earth, bound for another planet for the first time someday.

Purdue has taught me so many things, but most of all it has taught me to pursue my dreams and when an opportunity presents itself to seize it, make the most of it, do it so well that if you were to do it again – it couldn’t be outdone.

Making the decision to attend this school was the best I’ve ever made. I am reminded each and every day how much I have learned in my short 2 and a half years here, in the classroom and especially out of the classroom.

I am chasing my dreams and pursuing my passion for photography, full-time. I am considering coming back for a degree in business someday, but I am at a time in my life where I have the freedom to explore and want to chase this dream of mine full-time, unfiltered, and undistracted. I really want to set my creative mind free to see what my potential really is.

For the foreseeable future, I am remaining in West Lafayette but I have goals for pictures to take far and wide.

In 2017, I want to travel a heck of a lot more and make tons of amazing photos doing it, but I’m going to need your help.

Today, along with this announcement to pursue photography professionally, I am officially launching my page on Patreon.

If you aren’t already familiar, Patreon is a place where creatives like myself can accept monthly contributions from fans of their work and use it to better their craft, upgrade their gear, and generate a living doing what they love.

 

Prints will continue to be available on my website but Patreon is the best way you can support me if you choose to.

Photography is my passion.

I have a lot of photos left to make and I hope you’ll consider becoming one of my Patrons so I can continue to share my work freely and openly.

This is just the first page in my newest chapter, I look forward to where this leads me, and hope you’ll continue to follow along as I write my story.

-Trevor Mahlmann