Having new unique experiences and living life passionately is important to Karen Geswein. She refuses to live a mediocre life. (Photo provided)

WARSAW — Photographers are known to have fearless, outgoing personalities all while welcoming the unknown. They strut out of their comfort zone to see new places and meet new people. Traveling and trying exciting things is a dream everyone has but is often times placed on the back burner. Karen Geswein, 55, Warsaw, is a woman who isn’t chasing after dreams. She’s already achieved them. She’s been shooting professionally since 1989, not once glancing back.

“It’s what I do to make money, but it’s my love and passion.” She explained. “I think people often define work as something that’s burdensome but it doesn’t have to be. I bought a teardrop camper named Mame from ‘Auntie Mame’ who says, ‘Live, live, live. Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.’ I’ve embraced that life’s a banquet and I’m not going to starve.”

Beautiful places and animals are her favorite subjects to capture, making national parks the best place to park her camper. Many times there isn’t a campsite close by where she would want to be when the light and setting is just right. She’s traveled through Europe and photographed the French Alps, but her favorite place to be is in the United States.

On her first trip to Alaska to photograph grizzly bears, she traveled in a group of seven in isolated wilderness. Every day was a plane ride and hike to get where they wanted to go, spending all day capturing the wilderness before it was time to go back. The first day in Alaska, Geswein broke her ankle. Instead of sitting out, she wrapped it in duct tape and went forward.

“I was staying. There was no way I was going to leave,” she said. “That was when I decided that dreams do come true. It was amazing. I fell in love with Alaska. When you go to these great big beautiful places it keeps you small and gives you perspective. It makes you appreciative. When you’re looking through the lens, photographing something like grizzlies and they’re looking back at you? That’s the coolest. It’s like they’re looking right through and you just connect. You know they could eat you but they choose not to. It’s about respect.”

Traveling is a priority for her, not just for adventure or photography but because she meets all sorts of interesting people with their own unique passions. From a moose guide who shared his enthusiasm about moose and conservation for them to others who enjoy new experiences just as she does, no one is the same.

Geswein travels with her husband, Chuck, enjoying being outdoors together whether it’s photographing, hiking or cycling. When she isn’t venturing into the unknown, she’s doing 360 photos for Google. She used to be a professor at IPFW, helping others advance with their photography techniques. Still missing the teaching side of it, Geswein is revisiting an idea of creating a workshop that doesn’t just revolve around photography but around experiencing things they normally wouldn’t.

“Right now, I’d say I’m completely satisfied with myself,” reflected Geswein. “I think you have to get comfortable with who you are. It’s all about contentment. I take pictures for a living. I go out every day and get paid to take pictures. Does it get any better? Being content has been a huge challenge. Things don’t always come as fast as you want them. You have to wait.”