Intention to Attention

Street Smart Naturalist · Jul 23, 2026 · 7m · transcript

My good friend Andy Nettell has what I call the intention to attention. By this I mean that he goes outside seeking to be a good observer. He does this not only by reading up on the natural history of his chosen homeplace, Sequim, Washington, but also by carrying a camera with him. “Taking the camera with me has rekindled my sense of wonder. I know that this is an overused phrase, but it perfectly describes the practice of observing the natural world.”

I have known Andy for more than 35 years; we worked together as park rangers at Arches National Park in the early 1990s. He was always a good…