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Music taste
Anything, everything. |
Favorite drink
Morning: Coffee, especially from
Peet's. Evening: Dale's Pale Ale. |
Favorite quote
"How could I have expected that after
a long life I would understand no more than
to wake up at night and to repeat: strange,
strange, strange, O how strange, how strange,
O how funny and strange." –
Czeslaw Milosz, Poet |
Recommended Books
Anything by Haruki
Murakami. If I could photograph like this
guy writes, I'd be a happy man. |
Specialty?
I create abstract, dream-like images out of
the simple elements of nature, such as fallen
leaves, sticks, flowers, and seeds. I'm especially
drawn to the neglected and overlooked parts
of nature, the fallen, broken and decayed
objects that you normally step on or rake
out of the way. |
Dream Project
I'm living it: making a living being creative. |
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| Interview |
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How did you
become an designer/photographer?
I've always been drawn to art and design. As a kid,
I'd draw, write, take photographs, write computer
programs...whatever artistic impulse that came to
mind. But I didn't dedicate myself to being an artist
until my early 30s. I had been working as a creative
director for a number of years, and was burning
out. I was tired of using my creative skills to
help someone else's dreams succeed. So I quit my
job and began focusing on my fine art photography.
Where are you from originally?
Buffalo, New York, the city of no illusions. Nothing
gets handed to you on a plate in Buffalo, so you
learn to figure things out for yourself.
Who were your main influences growing up?
My father. Even though he had four kids, he quit
a corporate job he hated to start his own business.
All along he worked to find an outlet for his own
creativity. Although I didn't realize it at the
time, it showed me that sometimes you just have
to take risks. Did you go to art
school/college for design or are you self-taught?
I'm self-taught. Or should I say, I've been taught
by experience. I never went to art school, but I
did watch and learn from countless friends and colleagues.
Any advice or tips to novice artists/designers?
Remember that being an artist is a business, just
like any other. You need to learn how to be an entrepreneur:
how to market, sell, plan, and organize. Also, be
prepared for how hard it is to be a professional
artist, how much work is involved. You will be intimidated,
you will be frustrated, and you will want to give
up, again and again. Learn to deal with it. If you
don't feel like you want to give up, then you probably
aren't pushing yourself hard enough. What
has been the most rewarding and challenging project
you have worked on?
My Fallen Leaf project has been a fascinating experience.
It started one day when I found a old, decayed leaf
on the sidewalk, and brought it home to my studio.
There was something in the character of this decrepit
object that spoke to me. I began collecting more
leaves that had fallen and were starting to dry
and decay to explore with my camera. I've been doing
this for several years now, and continue to be amazed
at the range of image and emotion that can be discovered
in such a humble and disregarded subject.
What is your favorite portfolio piece? Why?
My favorite piece is a photograph called "Mask".
It is an abstraction of a fallen, dried leaf, that
resembles a mask covering a face. This is my favorite
because I feel it really created itself. As I was
exploring this leaf through the camera, I discovered
a certain point of view that really grabbed hold
of me. Not only did I find it visually striking,
the image exudes a strong sense of personality,
mood, and even a backstory. I ended up spending
several days staring at this leaf from this perspective,
exploring subtle variations in position, lighting,
and focus. What American art or
artist inspires you most? Charles
Schulz. Yes, he was "just a cartoonist".
But more than any fine artist, his work has has
had direct influence how I see and understand the
world. I love Schulz’s ability to express
a gut-felt emotion through a simple image and a
focused story. And now that I am an artist myself,
I also find myself inspired by both his uncompromising
work ethic, and his ability to always balance his
time between work and family. |
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| All images have been
used with permission. All images are copyrighted
and strictly for educational and viewing purposes. |
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Dance
An abstract macro photography of a fallen
leaf. |
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Flight
An abstract macro photography of a maple tree
seed pod. |
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Heart
An abstract macro photography of a fallen
leaf. |
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Mask
An abstract macro photography of a fallen
leaf.
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Old
Tree
An abstract macro photography of a broken
stick. |
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Rest
An abstract macro photography of
a locust tree seed pod.
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Sun
and Moon
A macro photography of an acorn cap. |
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Vertebrae
An abstract macro photography of a piece of
peeling bark. |
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