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A Bit About Me...

“This recognition, in real life, of a rhythm of surfaces, lines, and values is for me the essence of photography; composition should be a constant of preoccupation, being a simultaneous coalition – an organic coordination of visual elements.” 

– Henri Cartier-Bresson

I have always loved the musings of Henri Cartier Bresson on photography... and if someone had told me twenty years ago that I would become a photographer with print sales that have been sent to collectors in countries from around the world, I would have suggested to that person that they might want to check in with their local clinic for exceptionally delusional thinking! At that time, I was long-steeped in the traditions of the hospitality industry (read: relentless work with unforgiving hours) managing and directiong small luxury hotels. That career often kept me away from doing the other things that I love.

I bought my first "real" camera in 1978 while living on Maui as a young man. It was the iconic Rollie 35; a compact range-finder camera with manual controls and a crisp Zeiss lens. It was with that camera that I first became familiar with the triangular relationship between film speed, shutter speed and f-stop. The Hawaiian landscape gave me plenty of creative opportunities to focus on and explore. I did not know it then, but that was the genesis of a life-long relationship with landscape photography.

By the late 1990's, Martha's Vineyard photographer Alison Shaw was at the forefront of creating images with camera motion; and her work resonated with me deeply. So much so, that I knew that this was precisely what I wanted to do as I tried to wiggle away from the demands of my hotelier life. Life, of course, has a funny way of offering new routes at just the right time... and without warning, I was thrust into a now-or-never moment... I seized the opportunity and left the hospitality field. It took a great deal of courage; having no compass as I embarked on this journey. And I knew that living the life of an artist is challenging; with income streams far from reliable. But I felt through the fear... and did it anyway.

The result is what you will find on the pages of this website. The images are truly a labor of love... each shoot offering up unique expansion and learning possibilities for me on multiple levels. On the deepest levels, creating images with my camera is a restorative and rejuvenating process; like a meditation. Experientially, it gives to me in a way that is difficult to convey; but perhaps best described as the energetic confluence of my being, my surroundings and time. And this confluence is a necessary component of my best life... and my best work. 

And, if in a moment of this confluence I am able to capture an image that others find appealing... well, then that is of a very fortunate and unintended consequence for me. Blessings... and thank you for looking!

 

 

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