I started out loving photography in grade school. I was very much an artist growing up- to the extent that my art teachers told me that they had taught me all they knew and it was time for me to move on. So... I did.
With my fathers Olympus 35MM, I began taking photographs of things around me. I was fascinated with the textures of everyday things - like tree bark, fields of grass, fabrics and landscapes. I then began to experiment with black and white photography to exploit the contrasts of what I was seeing. I participated in local 4H competitions while growing up in the midwest.
Upon entering high school I was a yearbook photographer. I developed my own film, printed my own pictures in the tiny darkroom tucked away in the industrial arts area, and got to school early just because I wanted to.
I've been working as a graphic artist in newspaper publication for a career. I was exposed to the fine art of journalistic photography by a gentleman named Doug Hunt. He has since passed away, but his unique perception of what makes a good picture has stuck with me to this day.
I have since moved from film to DSLR photography. I appreciate the unscripted, candid style photograph for the treasure it is - A memory, a moment captured that cannot be duplicated in a studio. I tend to focus on these types of photographs since they bring me the most satisfaction.
