I'm not a great promoter of myself but people (unknown to me why) are (supposedly) interested in me so here's the 'poop'! Oh, by the way, if I have left anything out , just e-mail me and I'll be glad to go into more detail about my (yawn) life. Or if you have any ???? Just call 716-689-3143.
Believe it or not my profession as a photographer started as a hobby with a Minolta 35mm Model 101, a totally manual camera (which I still have and on rare occasion, dust off and look at ). Of course, it stops being a hobby when you overindulge yourself with more and more equipment (gotta have the latest and greatest) and people start telling you that you are good. In my opinion, that is when the real "acid test" begins and you ask yourself, ' Am I good or is my Aunt Stella just pulling my leg?' But I feel the 'trick is'...... Can you still enjoy the profession of 'picture taking' and make a living with it. I've been attempting to do just that since 1984- another 20 years and I should have an answer.
EQUIPMENT
My current arsenal of photographic cameras consist of the following: Minolta 35mm 101, Minolta 35mm XG7, 25-250 Minolta zoom lens, (2) Bronica SQAM medium format cameras, (2) 120 backs/inserts, 50mm lens, 80mm lens, 250mm lens, 4x5 Cambo view camera with 150and 250mm lens. My 'bread and butter' camera is the Bronica. Nevertheless, (yes there is always an asterisk hidden somewhere) I have incorporated/embraced digital into my profession.
ABOUT MY WORK
Between the 3 of 'us', Me, Myself, and I, all images are created by Me and Me alone. There is no full time staff, no assistants, no interns, no sending the work out for someone else to shoot, print or mat/frame. Myself takes care of the matting, framing and printing of images. I and only I attend the festivals to promote and sell my images. All work was created 'Out There' along or near the Eastern region of the United States, as well as Germany and now a bigger portion right in my studio. Images are created with the camera, they are not computer generated, some may look it but they are not. One example I will give is the Hot Peppers in the Grinder. It was created in my studio, on one piece of film. The grinder and hot peppers were photographed with strobe lighting, and then in darkness, while the shutter on the camera was open, I opened and 'lit' a propane hose that I had previously snaked inside the grinder to ignite the flame. Three rolls of film later, I knew I had something.
With changes in the field of photography, I have started to embrace the new digital era and will integrate that knowledge into my everyday photo sessions. Of course with it brings new problems, new skills and fresh ideas. That's what I like about photography, there's always something innovative and exciting to do with the medium! I can always create something unique with it and that's what sets me apart from all the rest. I dare to be imaginative , different, and at the same time have fun doing it.
PS, Thanks for reading all the way thru, now go and enjoy my images!
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