My fascination with photography goes back to my 10th birthday. That’s when I got my first camera, a Kodak Brownie. Like most kids with a camera, I shot pictures of almost anything, without much regard for composition or lighting.  Snapshots, really. Although I did manage to record man’s first steps on the moon by shooting the screen of our black-and-white television with that camera – a shot I’m still proud of. By high school, I started developing an eye for images, and my own negatives and prints in a cramped, light-tight bathroom. I also fell in love with the black-and-white style of Ansel Adams and Richard Avedon.

Encouraged by my photography teacher, I pursued a photojournalism degree in college, where I shot for the school newspaper. Celebrities, rock shows, car accidents, football, city council meetings, I shot it all. It was a rush. I had a great time and a regular byline. And I really honed my skills.

College ultimately led me to degrees in public relations and advertising. I was able to put my photo skills to use in professional positions for national nonprofits, Top 10 communications firms and in positions supporting federal goverment agencies from time to time. Photography was not my main job in those roles, but many of the lessons I learned informed my approach to them. And still do.

I will say that I got seriously hooked again when digital cameras and printers were able to produce images that rivaled high-quality black-and-white film prints. No more negatives.  No more dark room. Just the immediate gratification of seeing  a keeper instantly. And the ease of finishing that image on a computer. Magic.

Portraits, especially black-and-white portraits, are my favorite thing to shoot.  In a studio or on location. Controlled lighting or available light. Doesn’t matter to me. My philosophy is that no matter the subject – children, adults, buildings, tree knots, rock formations – it’s all portraits.

With every image, my goal is to capture the unique essence of the subject. That little spark. I welcome the opportunity to capture that for you.