My Background
My interest in photography started in 1978, I spent the first dozen years living in Central Massachusetts with Western Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
Maine serving as my landscape studio. This is where my love for
scenic
photography and Americana developed.
Over the years, my commitment to photography as an art form has grown and my interests
broadened. In 1992 I decided to turn my passion for photography into a career.
After years of study and work in different areas, I began, in 1995, to focus my
interests on figure studies and scenic photography. My goal in both areas is strikingly similar; to evoke people's emotions through my images. To do that I
seek to capture the essence of the subject on film and relay that essence to the viewer.
I now live in Tampa, Florida, with my wife and assistant, Sandi, where our home also
serves as a studio for figure studies and other photography.
My Works
My work covers a
fairly wide range of areas as evidenced by this site. However, my
primary areas of interest include figure studies and scenic
photography.
While some of my works are commissioned, most are a result of personal drive and
inspiration. This affords me the luxury of working in areas that excite me the most and
allow me the greatest sense of personal expression.
I prefer to work almost exclusively in positive film. While this medium is the least
forgiving of the photographer, it allows my work to be printed using the more archival
(and costly) Fujichrome or Ilfochrome (formerly Cibachrome) processes. These processes are
well known for their pure dyes and print longevity. I have, however, been
exploring digital and am looking forward to a time when making the
switch away from film will be reasonable and practical.
My prints are typically mounted and matted with carefully selected, archival
quality, acid-free materials, and sturdy frames assuring a long life. Each frame is selected to
compliment and enhance the image; costs are not spared. While this results in a more
significant investment, it is an investment which will withstand the tests of time.
My Work Style
Photography is a big part of my life. I spend
time on the road gathering
and refining new ideas and images. While Florida provides me with a wide variety of
subjects and plenty of natural sunlight, most of my subjects are not of Florida. My works
include the North East, South East, Mid-West, California, and several international
areas. I continue to travel and manage to find interesting images wherever I go.
A typical day or weekend in the field means heading in a general direction with a map to
avoid backtracking and to provide a quick way home after I've lost the day's light. I
like to wander back roads. When I find something interesting I stop and try to capture
my
emotions on film. Occasionally I ask local residents for suggestions of interesting
things in their area.
When photographing models for figure studies I also solicit the model's input. A good
model knows how she looks best and this tends to relax her as well. With both
parties relaxed and working in concert, the session tends to go quickly, be more fun, and
yield better results. However, when it comes to my abstract work, I pose the model in a
wide variety of positions and I simply go with my feelings. The outcome is often quite
exciting.
Hopefully the images on this site will convey some of what I felt when I took them. Or
maybe they will stir up some of your memories long past.
My Equipment
Film
My Fine Art work is done almost exclusively with positive film. While it is far less
tolerant of lighting issues, I find it provides a truer rendition of my subject. The
balance of my work is done on positive or negative film, as the job dictates and
I have started to do some work in the digital format. I tend to
use Kodak film for my portraiture and figure studies while Fuji film seems to work best
for my non-people oriented work.
Format
All of my work is done using 35mm equipment. I strive for the sharpest possible photos
with the greatest possible detail. Several of my pieces have been printed as
large as 24" x 36" and is still extremely sharp.
Equipment
I use a Canon EOS Elan with f 3.5-5.6 28-80mm and f 4-5.6 75-300mm Canon Ultrasonic
zoom lenses; they are fast and quiet. I also supplemented the
built-in flash with a Sunpak 444D flash. I use a Nikon for my digital work.
I take most of my pictures using either a SLIK Universal U-212 Deluxe (in the studio or to
easily traveled off-sites) or my SLIK 1200G when in the field. My light stands and
lighting accessories are made by Photoflex and my studio backgrounds are provided by the
Background Outlet.
Beyond that, I have the usual compliment of Cokin filters, mini flashes, mini tripods, and
other paraphernalia that most photographers have.
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