Photography is a solitary process that begins as the eye seeks beauty through a viewfinder. It is opened up to sharing when the most affecting shots are developed and displayed.

Ryan Kwiecinski revels in the reactions of others who view his photographs. In January, the computer programmer enjoyed his butterfly images through the eyes of hundreds of viewers who attended the Purdue Master Gardeners garden show. His photo garnered him Best in Show out of more than 300 entries.

The photo was taken last summer at Brookfield Zoo's butterfly garden.

"It was hard to decide which one (to submit) because I'd taken a lot of butterfly images," said Kwiecinski. "I narrowed it down to six and showed them to my friends."

Kwiecinski likely would have gotten serious about his photography hobby even if technology hadn't come along.

"It makes it a lot easier to work with (digital) cameras," said the Chesterton native.

"I'm less hesitant to take a picture and delete it if I don't want it." He estimates that between five and 10 percent of photos captured actually make the cut.

Last year, Kwiecinski discovered Family Ties magazine and contacted the editor to see how he could submit photos. His first cover, shot for the July-August issue, featured his nephew Tate posing in a batting stance. Another cover appeared in the September-October issue.

"I'm definitely open to doing more assignments," said the 32 year-old.

Although he has taken photos of subjects dictated by editorial needs, Kwiecinski especially enjoys shooting outdoor scenes like sunsets at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and local lighthouses.

He's captured animals at Chellberg Farm and took a portrait of his cat that a company etched into a granite headstone after the cat died.

Although he's not considering leaving his day job, Kwiecinski plans to market framed prints, calendars and postcards from his photos. He has a Web site where some of his work can be viewed. Another goal of the site is to showcase the works of other photographers.

"I'm considering inviting a group of photographers to go out and shoot some photos," he said. "Everyone has a different point of view and you can always learn something new."

See Kwiecinski's photos at www.phantasticphotos.com.