 |
Artist's Biography & Statement
I was born & raised in Illinois. My family relocated to Oregon while I was in high school. In the course of my secondary education, I gained an interest in architecture which I pursued at the University of Oregon. A requirement for one of the projects was to photograph models of spaces with different sized scale figures in them to visualize how architectural proportions effect the perceived comfort of a space. Having to borrow a friend’s Exacta camera, I became fascinated with the wonders and challenges of capturing an image on film.
I completed my original goal and worked in a number of architectural firms in Portland. My interest in photography continued to grow. I was asked to photograph many of an employer’s built projects for their self-promotional use. I finally decided it was time to pursue my passion and began a new career in photography. It should be no surprise that my two careers are tightly intertwined with architectural photography. I am also drawn to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the world beyond which led me to start marketing my own line of photo greeting cards. I also take advantage of the occasional opportunity to capture portraits and document events.
When I was putting together a photo memory book for my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary I found pictures I had taken in Chicago when I was about 10 years old. I was pleasantly surprised to find I was able to capture interesting images long before I became seriously interested in Photography. I originally selected the career path that led me to become an architect. The information gathered on that pathway helped train my eye for the design, composition, lighting and color that I now utilize as a photographer.
I enjoy ‘dissecting’ an image out of an overall scene, capturing an attractive picture from a seemingly hodgepodge of visual ‘noise’. Although people rarely say “I have been there and I didn’t see that”, when they look at my photographs the look on their face tells me they hadn’t seen what I found to photograph. I am pleased when I hear compliments for the way I photographed something they did see or were familiar with.
I see the world photographically. Even when I don’t have a camera with me, I frequently find myself thinking about which lens I would use to best frame the given scene. I often wish the world would stop while I study a newfound subject from various angles and with different lenses. The world is waiting for me to capture it on film!
Why am I different?
I have been interested in the visual arts all of my life and have been a part of the visual arts for all of my career.
I picked up photography in architecture school. In fact, architecture was the first subject matter I shot.
After many years of practicing architecture, I am very familiar with the level of professionalism that is appropriate for a successful working relationship with the design and construction community.
I have learned how to plan a project to maximize success and that experience is utilized in planning a shoot. From calculating sun angles and keeping tabs on the weather forecast to anticipating when to schedule a photo session to minimize vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Due to all my years of hand drafting I am sensitive to making sure vertical and horizontal lines are depicted as such to the extent of the limitations of photographic equipment.
As an architect I have worked on a wide variety of projects from single family home remodels up to fabulously expensive and complex high-tech facilities for the production of micro chips. I have worked in small one person firms and huge design companies employing thousands of people around the world. The wide range of employers exposed me to both high design and incredibly technical approaches to satisfying a client’s needs.
My architectural background trained me to visualize buildings that didn’t even exist on paper yet. I can imagine how a photograph will look from a point of view that I can’t easily reach. (“If I had a cherry-picker or helicopter, I could really get a great shot of that.”) |
|
|
