When Carter Warden first started his Flickr page, it was more for a place to back up and display the thousands of underwater images he took in and around Tennessee. That’s why he was surprised when a National Geographic researcher contacted him about using two of his images for an upcoming project.

The images published by National Geographic were of paddlefish that live in a rock quarry of Sweet Water, Tennessee.

“Warden claims that the experience of being published with National Geographic hasn’t necessarily changed him. “To me,” he says, “it was all just a hobby and wanting to document things.” He did note however that he underestimated his collection, “I didn’t realize other people would value my photography as much.””

Warden’s recommendation to others looking to get published is to make your images accessible.

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