Photo is derived from the Greek word Phos which means "light"
-graph is a Greek word meaning "to draw" or "to write"
-er is a noun forming suffix meaning "one who concerns with"

Photographer: One who draws or writes with light.

As a photographer I find it my duty to follow the light, because where the light is, is where my lens should always be.

I love to spend the extra care and attention in getting the perfect shot: exposure, white balance, focus, shutter/aperture. I love photos like these that show evidence that I have to some degree improved technically. The fireweed was taken quickly, and the spiky bulb is one of many I took. I experimented with different DOF and shutter speeds. I remember the light, it was a few moments before the sun was about to start its descent behind the horizon. Perfect lighting. Neither one of these are edited in photoshop. That pleases me to no end.