“My first experience in photography was in high school when I joined the photography club. I enjoyed taking photos and watching them come to life in the dark room setting.
My creative endeavors sat idle for about 15 years until I took up underwater photography. The ability to document and share my underwater experiences with others sparked an interest in trying to create my own form of art. About 15 years later a back injury and house fire put an end to my photography once again.
In about 2000 I decided to give photography another try. Thinking above water photography had to be easier that underwater photography, I quickly realized that was definitely not the case for me. Each photography genre has its own demands and needs in order to reflect those special moments you want to share.
After initial setbacks and less than positive results, I decided I would learn all I could about taking photography to the level that I viewed in photographic works that I admired. Reading, attending workshops, and joining a local photography club helped me make progress in improving my photographic skills, and creating images I hoped would convey the emotion of my experiences.
Thank you to Craig Tanner, and Marti Jeffers for your guidance and inspiration. A very special thank you to my dear friend/mentor/photography buddy, Dan Suckow.
Almost 20 years later, I am still awed and excited about trying to craft images that create some type of emotion in the viewer. I hope the viewer will appreciate how special the world around us is, no matter the location.”
Describe 1 technique you often use in your art, and how you developed that skill
“I often try to create a soft or semi-painterly feel to my photographic art using various tools in Photoshop, and Topaz software.”
Where does your subject matter come from? Where do you find inspiration?
“My subject matter comes from scenes that strike an emotional connection to me. Scenic, animals, architectural, are my most common subject matter.”
What do you like most about Tacoma, Puget Sound, or the Pacific Northwest
“I have lived many places and am thrilled by the beauty to be found in the Pacific Northwest during all seasons. We are blessed to have the ocean, mountains, semi arid, and geological features, within a reasonable distance.”
