A Lifetime Behind the Camera
Photography has been part of James' life and professional career for decades. Before concentrating on fine art nature photography, his journey behind the camera included service in the United States Navy and a long career in television news and visual journalism. Those experiences took him to many places and taught him the importance of patience, observation, timing, and telling a story through a single frame. James later became an Emmy Award-winning and Multi-Emmy-nominated television photojournalist, documenting people, communities, major events, and everyday moments through visual storytelling.
Today, those same skills influence his approach to fine art photography. The goal is not simply to record what a landscape looks like. It is to recognize the moment when light, weather, composition, color, and atmosphere come together—and create an image that communicates what it felt like to be there. That philosophy has become central to the work of Hearts & Horizons.
James is a fourth-generation Colorado Springs native, with family roots in the Pikes Peak region reaching back to the 1890s. Colorado's mountains, forests, high plains, changing seasons, and extraordinary light helped shape his appreciation for the natural world long before photography became his profession.That connection continues to influence the work of Hearts & Horizons today.
James seeks out places and moments that encourage people to slow down and look a little longer—the first light touching a mountain summit, autumn color moving through an aspen grove, water cascading through a quiet forest, wildlife in its natural surroundings, or the remarkable stillness of a Western landscape.
His work is shaped by a quiet sense of gratitude for the natural world and the beauty found within creation. Rather than asking the viewer to see a photograph in any particular way, Hearts & Horizons allows each image to become something personal—a memory, a moment of reflection, a connection to a favorite place, or simply an opportunity to find a little peace within a busy day.
A Little More Truth
Let's Dig A Little Deeper...
There is far more to James H. Egbert's story than simply being a fourth-generation Colorado native whose pioneer family settled in the Pikes Peak region during the 1890s. While those roots remain an important part of who he is, they are only the beginning of a life shaped by travel, service, storytelling, and an enduring appreciation for the natural world.
Like many children raised in military families, James proudly considers himself an "Army Brat." His childhood took him across the United States and overseas, exposing him to a remarkable variety of landscapes, cultures, and people long before he ever picked up a serious camera. Those experiences instilled a sense of curiosity and adventure that continues to influence his work today.
After returning to Colorado to finish high school, James enlisted in the United States Navy, beginning more than two decades of military service. During that time, James did what many young twenty something sailors did in thrill seeking and the job he did was full of that. While not the much publicised special operator, Navy SEAL teams, his job was one of the most dangerous working on the flight deck of different aircraft carriers launching and recovering air craft. James would say it was filled with mostly boredom, punctuated by brief moments of absolute terror and very close brushes with death. That career took him around the world, traveling east and west, north and south, and gave him the opportunity to witness places that relatively few people ever experience firsthand. While many remember the destinations, James remembers the light, the changing seasons, and the quiet moments in nature that stayed with him long after returning home.
Following his military career, James began a second profession in journalism—first as a newspaper photographer and later as an Emmy Award-winning television photojournalist. The situational awareness James was well experienced in from his Naval career served James well and led him into the high risk, fast paced world of breaking news coverage. For nearly two decades he documented history as it unfolded, covering everything from community stories to major national news events. It was rewarding work, but it also came at a personal cost.
Following his military career, James began a second profession in journalism—first as a newspaper photographer and later as an Emmy Award-winning television photojournalist. The situational awareness James was well experienced in from his Naval career served James well and led him into the high risk, fast paced world of breaking news coverage. For nearly two decades he documented history as it unfolded, covering everything from community stories to major national news events. It was rewarding work, but it also came at a great personal cost.
In late 2024, James made the difficult decision to retire from journalism. What followed was not simply the end of a career but the beginning of a new chapter centered on healing, reflection, counseling, and rediscovering the peace he had once found outdoors.
Returning home to Colorado became more than a change of address—it became a return to the landscapes that first inspired him and soothed his spirit. Today, creating fine art nature photography is both an artistic pursuit and a deeply personal calling. His photographs are an invitation to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the beauty that still exists in the world. Whether standing before a mountain sunrise, waiting patiently beside a waterfall, or watching wildlife emerge in the first light of dawn, James hopes his work allows others to experience the same sense of peace and wonder that photography has restored in his own life.
James draws inspiration from many of today's accomplished landscape and wildlife photographers whose work continues to redefine the art of photography. He greatly admires those he considers contemporaries—artists whose creativity and dedication continually challenge him to grow as both a photographer and storyteller. Among those who have most influenced his vision is the legendary Ansel Adams. Adams' commitment to artistic excellence, conservation, and portraying the American landscape with both technical mastery and emotional depth continues to inspire generations of photographers. Rather than imitate any one artist, James strives to develop a voice uniquely his own—one grounded in authenticity, patience, faith, and gratitude for the extraordinary beauty found throughout God's creation.
More than simply creating beautiful wall art, James views his photography as a quiet ministry. Every photograph is an opportunity to remind someone that there is still beauty, hope, and peace to be found, even after life's most difficult seasons. He believes that the natural world reflects God's handiwork and that slowing down long enough to appreciate it can be deeply restorative. If one image encourages a viewer to pause, reflect, or simply breathe a little easier, then it has fulfilled a purpose far beyond decoration.
Today, James and his fiancée, Reji Li, are the creative team behind Hearts & Horizons Fine Art Nature Photography. Together they continue exploring the American West, creating museum-quality limited-edition photographs from Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, and beyond. Their shared vision is to produce artwork that not only enhances homes, businesses, healthcare facilities, and hospitality spaces, but also invites viewers to experience the peace, wonder, and enduring beauty of God's creation. Each image reflects not only a place on a map, but also a journey of perseverance, hope, faith, and renewal.
And The Emmy Goes to...
A Peek Back When I Made TV News Video
In October 2024 I Retired from a nearly 20 year career as a photojournalist. This video is just a small sample of the work I did. It is also the video that I was awarded an Emmy Nomination and My first and only Emmy Award.
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