I was born and grew up in a small town called Newport, Tennessee in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. My folks took my brother and myself camping and hiking before I could walk and Dad taught us about wildlife, outdoor ethics, history, poetry, and geography. As a side trade, my Dad was an expert fly tier and a gunsmith too. He saved all of that money so that the four of us could camp across the country every year. We didn’t have much in the way of material things but we were rich on experience by the time I started to school.
My life has always been drawn to the outdoors. I spent a lot of time in Scouts going all the way to an Eagle Scout. As my interests developed, I spent time in New Mexico, a summer with my uncle in California on his mini-ranch, and a summer with my Dad’s folks in Kansas where I saw my first rodeo at age 11 in Pretty Prairie, Kansas.
I had a camera as early as 12 years of age and began to get real serious about my photography in my early twenties. After all of these years, I still get just as excited over a bear on my property or a beautiful sunset as I did when I was a youngster. The joy of watching and experiencing and learning has always been more important to me than just taking another photograph. My life motto has been “Don’t lose the wonder!”.
My first book (if you could call 28 pages of text and photos a book) came out in 1983. It was titled “A Walk With the Smoky Mountain Bears”. Soon to follow was “Bathed In Glory” a photo essay book on the Cades Cove region of the Smokies. Later on, I wrote a series of children’s wildlife books called “The Wilderness World of…Baby Bears”, “…of River Otters”, “…of White-tailed Deer”, “…of Baby Raccoons”. My first coffee table book was published by Graphic Arts Center Publishing in 1993 and was titled, “Great Smoky Mountains National Park”. Later titles were Reflections of the Grizzly, Reflections of the Wolf, and Reflections of the Black Bear. A couple of recent hardcover books are “Nature’s Inspiration” and “Nature Is the Art of God”. I spend a significant part of each year speaking in conferences, cowboy churches, schools, and special events. I’m proud of our country. My brother spent his life in the military receiving most every honor a fellow can receive and be living. He passed away proud to have served.
We began Pathways to Nature Publishing in the early 90’s and released an assortment of note cards, posters, journals, and other photographic pieces. It has been a wonderful pursuit traveling around this wonderful world and recording the beauty of God’s hand. While the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee are still home base, I travel throughout the year and find great Americans everywhere I go.
I like to read and spend the wee early hours reading and writing. I can relate to the old writers of the 19th and early 20th centuries. They either walked or rode a horse everywhere they went and had few distractions. They had time to stop and talk and listen to their fellow man. They had something to say and it still applies today. I’m a strong believer in the Lord who saved and changed me and that’s first and foremost in all I want to be about. All that I have and all that I am is a gift and I sure am thankful for it. Stay in touch with me at ken@kenjenkins.com or even on Facebook at Ken Jenkins Photography.