I was in the fourth or fifth grade I think. My first camera was one of those wimpy Kodak point-and-shoot 110's. I think I have taken more pictures when I was younger than my parents ever did.
In the Navy I purchases a Minolta X-700 (1987?) and became the ship's photographer. Some of my tasks were taking pictures of ship damage (caused by careless tugboats), proof of violence (when two sailors get into a fight, they leave blood and bruises) and the ship's cruise book (a collection of images from a six-month cruise).
When I entered college at SOSC I needed to take some art classes to fulfill some general requirements. Since I enjoyed photography I signed up for a couple of classes. Next thing I knew I had almost enough classes to fulfill a minor in photography. A couple of extra photography courses and the minor was mine! Only if accounting was just as easy...
I consider myself a good photographer and my portfolio includes several (paid) weddings and an article in the April '95 issue of Dunebuggies & Hot VWs. Although I really like photography I don't consider myself an artist; I see myself more as a technician. I can't see photography as a career for me -- it's really just a hobby. There is also the fact that I really like computers, my degree is in computers, and the computer field pays better. Nuff said.
These shots of my friend Stephanie were for a project in my commercial photography class. I helped her with her makeup selection and hair style. Then I dressed and posed her. She never had any modeling experience previous to this shoot.
Though simple in appearance, this shot took about an hour to perform, used 3 silver reflectors and 1 black reflector, and was located on a burm next to Greensprings Road just outside of Ashland. This layout was designed as an advertisement copy.
Go back.