I am a photographer. I call myself one not because I make all my living by photography, but more because the passion of it has taken me over. I cannot help but view scenes as if I had my camera in my hands, as I see God's creation in cities or country, my mind's eye calculates properties of light playing off first this one thing or another, I'm framing and composing the scene as if maybe I am a camera. I want to become a "master", that student/teacher that always strives to "learn to see." I found myself asking the Lord the other day to help me just "to see" because all the opportunities are there, just waiting for me to recognize them as they hide from obvious sight. The struggle is getting one's preconceived ideas out of the way... to stop "viewing" and learn to truly "see" what is in front of you...or behind you....over you...under your very feet. I have seen a dandelion photographed in such detail that I was just "struck" by the detail and order of that lowly weed, each seed firmly attached to the plant's head....until that exacting moment of breeze and release...and suddenly the seed is floating on the air current like a tiny paratrooper until it drops to make another of it's kind. What an intricate and all-knowing God, who can fling stars through his fingers out through untold galaxies stretching further than man's imagination can even perceive....yet make things so tiny that we can't possibly see their frame nor world. I have started this site with the hope of sharing in a more professional way what I consider myself "to be about." Please bear with me as I learn, if you will. Once I have the site in some kind of order, I will offer images for sale, principally in double-matted and sleeved format in various contemporary sizes.
There is such complexity, color, beauty, indeed wonder, that we view every day, but most times we see "only" with our eyes, yet there is no connection to our heart. What I hope to do is encourage people who view what I consider my "work," to slow down and really see with the heart's eye what God has put in front of us, which more than anything speaks of His existence, His marvelous plan, the incredible and complex design that unfolds in front of us if we take a moment to consider, and not just to observe, but to "feel" what is ignited in our minds and heart.
The camera has become a tool for me to, first, view with ageless curiosity those seemingly ordinary creations from God's heart to ours. Trees, flowers, insects, clouds in the ever changing sky, sun and moon, light in its myriad forms and colors fascinate me like a child. I choose to remain childlike in my wonder at this thing we call nature, there are never ending subjects to be excited about. If my photography enables even in a small way for you to better see and appreciate the natural world in her beauty, then I'll feel I've imparted to you something of value. The passion birthed in me for capturing moments in time has helped make the world brighter and more lovely for me, and hopefully, you will see something here that grabs you, that makes an "emotional connection" to you. My belief is that nature has a testimony, it clearly shows a plan and design beyond comprehension, created by divine intelligence. I wish to give honor to that Creator, Christ the Lord.
I hope I can help you see with the eyes of color, for to me, that sparkling element is so essential in most images, at least in most of my photographs. Yet at the same time, I realize how indispensable black and white photography is, as there are certain images that are best shown without what some would feel is the "distraction of color," but even those shots are captured first in color and then converted, to maintain the subtle naunces of shading from light to dark. So I will present galleries of black and white work as well. In most cases though, I want to reproduce the vividness of color and light that I witnessed when the shutter was pressed, and that is a hard thing to accomplish in the digital darkroom, and even harder direct from the CMOS sensor when settings are at neutral, where I keep mine. As most serious photographers do, I shoot and store in "raw mode," (think uncompressed digital negative) which requires post processing with software. This photographic science is one of constant change and growing, adapting to new techniques, then learning to modulate or apply with a feather touch rather than heavy adjustment, always a daunting but crucial process.
If color "shouts" in my shots, it's only because I'm trying to show you what it felt like to my senses at the point of witness, trying to replicate what I saw at that moment of capture. That said, I can only be as balanced in my craft as I am balanced in life, and that's always been a struggle and fine line to walk for someone like myself. So I strive to "always" be a student...ever learning but desirous to "share or teach" as well, as I want others to know the joy this art brings to my existence. I pray then that I can always be learning while I am alive. Until next time, see, smell, feel, enjoy, smile at others, but most of all, give thanks to God.
There is such complexity, color, beauty, indeed wonder, that we view every day, but most times we see "only" with our eyes, yet there is no connection to our heart. What I hope to do is encourage people who view what I consider my "work," to slow down and really see with the heart's eye what God has put in front of us, which more than anything speaks of His existence, His marvelous plan, the incredible and complex design that unfolds in front of us if we take a moment to consider, and not just to observe, but to "feel" what is ignited in our minds and heart.
The camera has become a tool for me to, first, view with ageless curiosity those seemingly ordinary creations from God's heart to ours. Trees, flowers, insects, clouds in the ever changing sky, sun and moon, light in its myriad forms and colors fascinate me like a child. I choose to remain childlike in my wonder at this thing we call nature, there are never ending subjects to be excited about. If my photography enables even in a small way for you to better see and appreciate the natural world in her beauty, then I'll feel I've imparted to you something of value. The passion birthed in me for capturing moments in time has helped make the world brighter and more lovely for me, and hopefully, you will see something here that grabs you, that makes an "emotional connection" to you. My belief is that nature has a testimony, it clearly shows a plan and design beyond comprehension, created by divine intelligence. I wish to give honor to that Creator, Christ the Lord.
I hope I can help you see with the eyes of color, for to me, that sparkling element is so essential in most images, at least in most of my photographs. Yet at the same time, I realize how indispensable black and white photography is, as there are certain images that are best shown without what some would feel is the "distraction of color," but even those shots are captured first in color and then converted, to maintain the subtle naunces of shading from light to dark. So I will present galleries of black and white work as well. In most cases though, I want to reproduce the vividness of color and light that I witnessed when the shutter was pressed, and that is a hard thing to accomplish in the digital darkroom, and even harder direct from the CMOS sensor when settings are at neutral, where I keep mine. As most serious photographers do, I shoot and store in "raw mode," (think uncompressed digital negative) which requires post processing with software. This photographic science is one of constant change and growing, adapting to new techniques, then learning to modulate or apply with a feather touch rather than heavy adjustment, always a daunting but crucial process.
If color "shouts" in my shots, it's only because I'm trying to show you what it felt like to my senses at the point of witness, trying to replicate what I saw at that moment of capture. That said, I can only be as balanced in my craft as I am balanced in life, and that's always been a struggle and fine line to walk for someone like myself. So I strive to "always" be a student...ever learning but desirous to "share or teach" as well, as I want others to know the joy this art brings to my existence. I pray then that I can always be learning while I am alive. Until next time, see, smell, feel, enjoy, smile at others, but most of all, give thanks to God.
