Sara Goodnick sees things differently than most.

She can appreciate the stark beauty of West Texas as much as she loves the lushness of the Sonoran Desert after a winter filled with rain. She notices small details in a person’s face and takes advantage of light and shadow in her work.

She is a photographer. She is an artist. She is a horsewoman. She is a traveler. And her work reflects the way she sees the world.

Goodnick sees the world in a variety of ways. She has recently started working on photographic art, putting together bodies of work she plans to show, compete and sell.

Originally a portrait artist, Goodnick decided to move into the field of fine art, nature and composite imagery. Her BA degree from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, ultimately led her toward the more artistic side of photography.

Goodnick and her husband, Steve, a professor of nanotechnology at Arizona State University’s School of Engineering, live in Goldfield Ranch.

Horse-lovers and adventurers, as well as aficionados of the desert, Goldfield provides them with a perfect spot to enjoy life. Sara’s studio is next to their house, and she is able to spend ample time at her computer, working her magic on her photos.

She began working with film as a photographer, but “fell in love” with digital photography. She has mastered the software she uses and creates visuals that are at once simple and complex.

The software enhances what she sees. Goodnick is an artist. Without any touch-up her photos would be considered great by most standards.

“I do so much more than just shooting the picture,” she said.

Her artwork can feature 20 to 30 “light” layers.

The process takes time, but the payoff is worth it. Goodnick recently earned her Master of Photography from Professional Photographers of America.

The master of photography degree is not just a piece of paper. Goodnick and others earning the distinction have met standards of excellence set by the PPA. She was awarded the degree in recognition of her superior photographic competence demonstrated through photographic competition, advanced education and service to the progression.

She also was a gold medalist in the International Photographic Competition in 2016. She is among the “Top Ten Photographers of the Year” named by Arizona Professional Photographers Association for the past six years.

Her subject matter varies greatly. She loves wildlife and nature, but enjoys still life work, abstracts and people. She is a certified portrait photographer, a merit few in that profession achieve.

“I do enjoy doing portraits,” she said. “I just have moved toward the more artistic side of the profession.”

Her work has been published in Cowboys and Indians, Taekwondo Times, Natural Home and Western Horseman. She also has photos on display at Russo Salon and Spa.

A number of her photos are viewable on her website, goodnickphotography.com. She and her husband travel extensively, and many of her images are taken in out-of-the-way places.

And while her photos of faraway are stunning, her images of Arizona can be jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

She uses her knowledge of her adopted state to work as a volunteer trip leader for Arizona Highways photo workshops.

She says she is excited about building her “bodies of work,” to improve her skills as an art photographer. It is hard to imagine how her images can be improved, but then, Goodnick sees things differently than most.

“I know when I have what I want,” she said. “And sometimes it takes me awhile to know I am there.”