I have been taking pictures almost as long as I can remember. I received my first camera when I was about ten years old and have never been without one since. Like many people I photographed family and friends, vacations and scenery, but I discovered early on that there was pleasure in taking pictures just for the sake of the picture itself. Eventually I found my interest being drawn from larger to smaller subjects. My greatest photographic enjoyment comes from focusing on interesting combinations of colors and patterns - a doorway or window, a wall, a sign, an abandoned building, a pile of rubble. I am also fascinated by the artistic creations of everyday artisans as seen in rural churches and indigenous art. I look for the beauty that is inherent in everyday objects. The color, pattern, and texture of walls, doors, graffiti, trash, or other chance encounters, are of interest to me. My pictures are closely focused to draw the viewer into the frame to see what intrigued me. After resisting digital photography for several years I finally purchased my first digital camera in 2003 and immediately fell in love with its potential. I initially used Photoshop to 'develop' my photos but resisted altering them on the computer. Recently, however, I have been experimenting with digital manipulation of my images to create abstracts, endeavoring to amalgamate the arts of photography and painting, then printing them on canvas or textured paper. I want the viewer to take a second look and discover what is there below the surface. I have lived in Embudo, NM since 1975, but I spent more than half of my life living in cities (Detroit and New York). I love nature and the country life, however the creations of civilization found in population centers have provided me with my richest photographic inspiration. To me, the true spirit of a place, whether near home or in a distant and exotic location, can be found in concentrating on the details rather than on the broader vista. |