I was born in Denver, Colorado, and spent the greatest portion of my early childhood outdoors. TV's had only been around for a few years . . .and watching TV wasn't near as much fun as racing down a hill on a wooden cart, or building snow forts to ward off potential enemies.

Weekends and vacations were always spent with my family camping, exploring ghost towns, or at the cabin we'd rent in Bakersville, Colorado. I could easily spend most of a week there chasing my hand made sail boat from one side of the bank to the other. So, thanks to my parents, I grew up appreciating the great outdoors.

We moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, right after I turned 10. Most of those early school years are just a blur to me now, but I do remember vividly when I was 15 my father gave me his Yashica Rangefinder 35mm camera. Granted, it was a hand-me-down, but nevertheless it was the coolest thing (besides my transistor radio) a guy could own. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough money to afford film - except on a couple of extra-special occasions. But I've been deeply involved with cameras and a love of Photography for almost 45 years. Whew . . . that really makes me feel old to say that!

It wasn't until after I graduated from college that I started shooting regularly and discovered I had a pretty keen eye for composition. I had stepped up to shooting a Minolta 101, then an Olympus OM-1, and started taking a camera everywhere. I started experimenting with other brands and lenses... Olympus, Canon, and eventually Nikon.

Then I took a night class at CSUC with wildlife Photographer Ron Sanford. What an inspiration he became to me - and a great friend. You can find his work in National Geographic Magazine, museums, and hundreds of national publications. Back then, we still hadn't entered the 'digital age' - so shooting slide film was our only source for quality enlargements. To this day, I can still hear Ron saying, "You're only as good as your last shoot." - words to live by in this business.

After my apprenticeship with Ron, I began shooting people. Lots of weddings, engagement photos, swimwear models. Since the first digital cameras came out, I've been shooting just about everything I see - landscapes, clouds, automobiles, architecture, and experimenting with composite imagery in Photoshop.

Photo Credits:
I've had photos published in 24 national magazines and 3 national Calendars. Most recently, a picture I shot of the Old Mill District appeared in the Seattle Times, and also a full-page picture was published in Seattle Metropolitan magazine. My work is also currently being featured by the Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau, The City of Bend, The United Way of Deschutes County, and numerous websites around Central Oregon.

Besides Photography, I'm an avid bread and cookie baker and and have perfected my own original recipes for both. On a daily basis, I hike the dirt trail up to the top of Pilot Butte (my favorite place in all of Bend - 2 miles round trip) which has 360 degree views of Central Oregon. I also like to play my Les Paul guitar and love to play "blitz" or speed chess online..

Favorite Quotes:

"Work hard, live right, find something to believe in."
A. L. Williams

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do."
Mark Twain

Summer /2009

I shoot exclusively with NIKON equipment (the D90) . . .

What's the BEST digital camera?

My answer: The one you have with you!