Artist Statement

Short Version:
CREATIVE: I photograph Northwest Landscapes that evoke a sense of peace. Ironically, the few moments just before I take the photo is often anything but peaceful as I’m scurrying about to capture the fleeting light. It is all about The Light. I love discovering the Light and tend to follow the Light as much as the landscape. While composing the scene, I strive for simplicity (sometimes in complex situations) but before the final tightening of the tripod screw occurs I turn off my analytical side and get into this zen-like state, feeling the scene, allowing myself to be pulled into the center-of-gravity of the image. Afterwards, when I print the image, I often discover certain symmetry or patterns within the picture that I didn’t consciously frame into the image when I released the shutter.

TECHNICAL: Images were shot with film using a Pentax 6x7 Medium Format camera. I scanned the images on a Hasselblad film scanner. I did basic digital darkroom work using PhotoShop. I printed the archival prints on an Epson 7600 inkjet printer and included a white framed border in the print. The prints were laminated to medium density fiberboard (MDF) so that the picture is ready to hang as is or will accept frame molding if desired.

Long Version:
I’ve been told that landscape photography takes a lot of patience. Although I have occasionally waited an hour or 2 to get a shot I wanted, I generally don’t wait around too long. A favorite saying of mine is, “if the picture isn’t there, don’t take it”. It is all about the light and if the light isn’t right, I’m outta there. I’m sure I’ve missed some shots because of my impatience but I’ve also run into other shots, shots that I didn’t plan for and were divinely handed to me, many times with only just enough time to set up the camera and snap the pic before the light faded away. I’m sure I have waited longer but I don’t keep track when I’m having fun.

An Ansel Adams quote that resonates with me, both from its humor perspective and its reality perspective is, “Photography is knowing where to stand.” I love working the scene, finding the right place to stand. I’m constantly moving around, changing lenses and trying things. I think a lot about composing the shot but before the final tightening of the tripod screw occurs I turn off my analytical side and get into this zen-like state, feeling the scene, finding the center-of-gravity of the image. Afterwards, when I print the image, I often discover certain symmetry or patterns within the picture that I didn’t consciously frame into the image when I released the shutter.

For as infrequently as I get out to take pictures, I’ve had more than my fair share of “good luck.” I’d rather think of it as God setting the scene…just for me. All I do is show up and release the shutter. Based on all of the beautiful Light that I’ve experienced, I take it as confirmation and encouragement from above to keep doing what I’m doing. It really is all about The Light.

I love every aspect of photography:

• I love doing the research on a location. Surfing the net, library, etc.
• I love planning out a trip. Compiling a list of potential shots, the order I want to explore them, the order I plan to shoot them. Where I’m going to spend the nights.
• I love sleeping in the fields or camping near the shot.
• I love waking at 2:00 am to the chorus of coyotes singing out to each other as they gather for a family meeting.
• I don’t love the alarm going off at 4:15 AM, but being a morning person, the excitement of what’s about to happen gets me up-n-goin’ pretty quick.
• I love being on location, watching the sun come up, while most of the human world is still asleep. The surroundings are fresh from the night, the colors are vivid, even if there is no shot I love just being there.
• I love discovering the Light and tend to follow the Light as much as the subject.
• I love revisiting old friends to see how they’ve changed before the snows and wind take them down.
• I love exploring for new shots after the morning shoot. I regularly drive to the point of nausea because I want to discover what’s around the next bend or maybe the next one. I’ve been learning to slow down in recent years and pace myself.
• I love getting film back from the developer and looking at it on a light table.
• I love correcting images in Photoshop to make just the right image, more like what my eye saw rather than the limitations of my equipment.
• I love printing an image, the bigger the print the more I love it.
• I love hanging it on my walls and admiring them.
• I love showing my images to others and discovering the things that catches their attention, sometimes for different reasons than I have.

It all comes down to that ½ sec @ f22 when I release the shutter and record my memory for you to share. I hope you love these images of Wonder Light, whether on this site or in your home or office, just ½ as much as I loved bringing them to you.

Enjoy