Greg Synstelien

http://uffdagreg.deviantart.com/store/

Lake Park, MN USA

Born and raised in Minnesota. Grew up on the Iron Range, the north eastern most corner of the state. Starting collecting insects nearly from day one. Always loved the big moths the most. Caught many, many Big Poplar Sphinx (Pachysphinx modesta)... but Actias luna moths were always my favorite. On the Iron Range there's not much to do if you're not into hockey or deer hunting, nonetheless, I kept myself quite busy practically living in the woods. My brother and I hiked, exploring every nook and cranny around our home town that was to be explored. I remember the day my brother and I bought a dozen or so leg traps and set out to catch a mink or a fox or a raccoon. I remember the day all too clearly when we caught a rabbit and it cried and cried like a baby. On that day, my brother and I closed all our traps and abandoned them in a mine pit... much to my parent's chagrin. We still loved catching critters, though so we moved onto live traps... and caught ourselves our first skunk. Also, to my parent's chagrin. We stunk skunk for weeks. After high school I went on to college at Concordia College in Minnesota and then to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. I was an art major, focusing my attention toward commercial art. However, I ended up moving to NYC to be an actor. And from NYC I moved to Los Angeles to be in the movies. My contact for the movies (she knew and was loved by the rich and famous) died in a car accident and that was pretty much it for me... since I was horrible at auditioning and sucked at marketing myself. Plus I didn't know anyone remotely connected to anyone who was 'anybody'. Way too anxious. And way too good at tending bar and waiting tables. Thus, I'm back in Minnesota. Back with my insects. Only this time with digital photography. Love it! I pay my bills with wedding photography and get my thrills photographing large silk moths.