For the first time, Jeff Puckett shares the stories, inspiration, and experiences that have shaped his life as a photographer, printmaker, and aviator. In this candid conversation, Jeff talks about his approach to seeing, the unexpected moments that inspire his photographs, and the craft behind transforming those photographs into hand-pulled fine art prints.

Ask someone how to become a better photographer, and you'll likely hear recommendations for a new camera, a sharper lens, or the latest editing software. While a quality kit is certainly helpful (check out my Leica kit recently featured on the Red Dot Forum Camera Talk), the most important piece of equipment is often overlooked. And it’s free. Learn how to develop your photographic eye in this post.

Behind the Lens is a series about pulling back the curtain on not just the images captured, but the decisions, the access, and the moments that made them possible. This post captures some of my favorite photographs almost never happened.