Have you ever seen a photograph that was very clearly one special moment in time? That's what photographer Carole Ellis is always looking for.

Ellis came to photography after pursuing a number of other careers and avocations. She's been in the toy business, the antique business, and has been a water color painter too. She always thought that she would be like her sister, an artist, or her brother a photographer but along the way she got into metal sculpture and stuck with it for more than 10 years.

It was very dirty work though so she gave it up for her health. Then her husband brought home a digital camera and she said, "Whoa! That's it!"

She kept at it, practicing and learning more and until it became a passion. Now it is Ellis said, "The love of my life."

She now uses a high level professional camera, a Nikon D300 and has an array of lenses. She's not one of those who spends hours in front of a computer however.

"I'd rather be out shooting photos," Ellis said.

Ellis said she has "Pictures in my head" that she tries to capture. She often comes close to what she has in mind and will spend hours, waiting for the right light or moment to appear.

"I sometimes have to wave at people to let them know I'm there so I don't startle them, if I'm waiting in some bushes to photograph a bird," Ellis said.

Her husband, who passed away in March, was a photographer too and at last year's Fourth of Jul-Ivar's fireworks show they both went to get some photos of it. She arrived at Hamilton Viewpoint, jumped from the car and took an absolutely spectacular photograph of the Space needle surrounded by brilliant bursts of color... that true to her goal, was a remarkable moment in time.

Ellis sells her work at art fairs and on her website www.caroleellis.com and to date, the Space Needle fireworks photo is her biggest seller. She may have come to photography later in life but her art and dedication to it are great examples of what happens when you follow your vision.