A.     I live in Arcata, California -along the magical northern coast!

Q.     Is your work for sale?

A.     Yes, by clicking on the images you wish to purchase, an email will automatically open up with the correct reference information. Your email reserves a custom hand-made print awaiting your check or money order. Soon, I will be able to accommodate credit card purchases.

Q.     Why do you create imagery primarily in Black & White?

A.     For several reasons: First of all, B&W photographic imagery by its nature (color simplified/reduced, monochromatic presentation) requires the viewer to step out of a literal interpretation of the scene and to receive the image in a more "artistic" manner (photography as a reality based medium not-withstanding). The “eye” naturally accepts color images as a realistic depiction of a scene. For color images to be easily received as "fine art" the artist-photographer has to do some dramatic simplification of shape, color, and/or composition, to force the viewer out of a "literal" mode of appreciation. Without doing this, the photographer succeeds only in creating "snap shots" or worse (especially with the nude as the subject) banal voyeuristic imagery.

B&W photography also allows the eye to see a world not usually observed. The subtle gradations of gray-tones reveal a beauty not seen in color photography. Its also been said that B&W images reveal a higher level of detail in comparison to color photography.

Another reason I create B&W imagery is due to the complete control I have over the finished image. By printing my own art pieces I have another level of input into what is emphasized, highlighted, reduced, diminished, left in, taken out, etc. To me, my fine art prints represent a complete artistic contribution, as opposed to handing over my negatives to a color lab to print, do the back-and-forth with dodging and burning, hue adjustment and saturation, cropping, and printing. Finally, there's nothing like the thrill of seeing my images develop and reach a mature state after careful analysis, adjustment, and fine-tuning. I take the time to "get to know" the negative I'm working with, developing a relationship and "listening" to hear what it is telling me -how to bring out the best of its features. The result is the culmination of the creative process -a fulfillment of the inspiration that drove me to produce such an image in the first place.

Q.     Why do you photograph the nude?

A.     Since I was young and saw the paintings and drawings my mother created I've been exposed to the nude figure as an artistic representation. While my family was modest with their body-exposure, nudity was never represented as a "bad" or "evil" thing -but something natural and acceptable, especially in an artistic presentation. In art school (The Rocky Mountain School of Art, Denver, Colorado) I drew nudes in the Life Drawing class.

After many years developing my skills as a photographer I finally felt I was ready to take on the challenges of working with the nude figure as the subject of my art.

I always felt it was possible to depict the nude figure in a non-exploitive, fine art, manner that would reveal my artistic vision in tribute to beauty and grace and the feminine aspect of the divine. The work of photographers such as: Edward Weston, Robert Farber, Joyce Tenneson, Karl Lagerfeld, Patrick Demarchelier, Horst P Horst, Helmut Newton, Jeanloup Sief, and newcomers such as Howard Schatz and Eric Boutilier-Brown convinced me that what I wanted to do was possible. Painters such as: Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Adolphe-William Bouguereau, John William Waterhouse, and Maxfield Parish, inspired me also. On the imagery of these traditional and photographic artists I assembled a foundation from which to form my own artistic vision of the nude figure.

What can I say about my nude imagery? It's been described as "soft," "romantic," "sensual." I think these adjectives adequately express my intention. I am pursuing a sensual, artistic, expression that portrays beauty and grace; that is respectful and non-exploitive. I feel I am fulfilling a sacred obligation to the feminine aspect of the divine by creating –or rather being present to receive– the image as it is revealed to me. I am placing myself in the right moment at the right location with all of my knowledge, talent, and experience to accept these divine gifts of art and share them with those that appreciate them.

Q.     Do you pay your models?

A.     No, at least not with money. I compensate the models I work with by providing custom handmade prints from our photo session. Occasionally, I trade portraits or other photographic images that they are interested in. I am proud to say that, to date, every woman who has worked with me loves the imagery they assisted in creating and is happy to have prints from our photo session.

Q.     How do you find your models?

A.     Mostly through direct introduction and showing my portfolio to prospective models. Referrals are another great resource. I am pleased to be at the stage of my career where women are seeking me out to work with me. I am always interested in working with someone new. Usually, its a woman's look, facial features, hair, gestures -something about her tells me she would be someone I would be interested in working with. I rarely just jump in and ask the person to model for me. It's important to me that the potential model realizes my sincerity and artistic motivation for broaching the subject of asking her to pose nude for me. I try to get to know the person, at least a little bit, first. I show her my portfolio and depending on her reaction; decide whether or not to proceed with my request to photograph her.