I've had an addiction to photography since the age of 9 when I received

an Instamatic 44 (cartridge film carrier from Kodak, for those puzzling).

My coursework; which covered topics of art, photography, drafting,

computers, history and illustration; continue to compell me.

I enjoy the creative process, don't mind researching characters or technical

information, and like to problem solve. I function best in well organized

environments; especially for archival information; and can learn new

softwares quickly. I own Nikon Digital equipment, Pentax film equipment,

and a budget film 2.25 twin lens reflex.

I've hand-processed B&W films from Plus-X through the T-max films,

Kodak and Fuji Color films, and Transparency films. Used Jobo processors,

and hand mixed chemicals in makeshift arraingements in more bathrooms

than I care to remember. I've also completed Leica copywork and worked

with photostat equipment (yeah, that long ago - remember bluelines and

rubdowns?). I know how to work the equipment.

Comfortable on PC's and Macs, using jpegs, gifs, tiffs etc. Own a PC

with media manager devices, dual-core processing, shareware image

software, and an internal ethernet card for high speed DSL or cable.

Always willing to learn new softwear, equipment and technique.

I've worked a few jobs with media types; advertising, marketing, sales,

printing, artistic, and collegiate staffs and users. You learn so much from

people if you never underestimate them; always listening to them, in

courteous, yet direct ways; allows you to take advantage of opportunities.

And it's there that we will find our successes.

When you are being paid to photograph situations, you can still

have fun. Standard props, poses, and backdrops don't always cut it.

And despite the subject, or the lighting, or the coloration; there will

still be people out there who will NEVER like your art, your ideas, or

your photographs. There are those who will ALWAYS love everything

you do (usually family members or spouses). As an artist, your true,

net-worth lies somewhere in-between those two extremes.

Remember, people criticized the likes of Richard Avedon,

Annie Liebovitz, and Alfred Eisenstadt... sometimes quite severly and harshly -

and those are people we love! They have been the giants of their time! Just

think of how they criticize someone who they don't know... Criticism rarely helps.

 It can help mold your work, change your direction... but you have to satisfy

the customer to avoid it. Whether that is the subject of the photo or a third

party purchase. Make the customer happy and you will do more than the

hacks can do.

Photographers deserve the same liberties and freedoms that poets

and madmen enjoy! I prefer my work environment to be photo-chemical

 free, and digital.