I don't care if you laugh at me, or with me... JUST LAUGH!!!

I am Cougarfreak!!!!

Trainer and Isa, a mountain lion cub, next to a waterfall on Tiger Island.

cougarfreak taking pictures of racers

I am the crazy "Jackrabbit" that bounds around in the infield of Prairie City's Off Road Racing course shooting photos of the racers while collecting starthistle with my shins. I am an artist and have been painting and drawing as long as I have been able to hold a pencil. Art kept my head straight through my college years and held the balance for all of the Science classes I took. I am inspired by Native American practices and beliefs, and nature, as well as high octane race fuel, and big suspension. Georgia O'Keefe, Bev Doolittle, and Thomas Mangelson are wonderful artists that I hope someday to be compared to. The music and art of the band TOOL are very inspiring to me as well.

I started shooting photographs in 1995 while working as a trainer at Marine World Africa USA's Tiger Island using the cats I worked with as my subjects. I helped raise and train many large cats, but worked extensively with 4 cougars (Puma concolor)... my favorite and thus the nickname..., 9 tigers (Panthera tigris), and 4 lions (Panthera leo). While working with them I took photos of the trainers playing and hanging out with them.

Tiger trainer hangin' out with a white tiger

This is Jonah hanging out with Kashmir on Tiger Island... doesn't he look nervous? Please remember that these are well trained wild animals, not tamed or domesticated (though Kashmir does look like an overgrown lap cat).

I have always been interested in anything off road, but took a particular interest in VORRA when I saw a truck in the parking lot of Marine World and had to find out whose it was. It was still street legal and the only modifications where dual Deutchtec shocks in each corner, and fiberglass front fenders, but it sure looked offroad ready. Turns out it was a rides mechanic's named Oscar Lara (#724). I have been shooting photos of his build up and racing since 2003.

race truck recovery in Hawthorne, NV.

Recently I have picked up a Kawisaki KFX400 from Oscar's wife, Kim. I am trying my hand at a bit o' off road racing myself (Amateur Quad #69) in a Sacramento based race series called VORRA (Valley Off Road Racing Association).

quad drifting in corner of race course

I have put together this site to share some of the things that lift my heart and soul. May the dirt be kind to you and yours!!!