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.