The purpose of this website is not to get into the mass production of my work, but to share with those who appreciate it, a limited number of prints for each piece. Since I did my first piece in 2003, my work will always be a “work in progress.” This site, as well as my work has only just begun, so there will be more to come. As long as I can remember, I have had a fascination for several things, photography, astronomy and flowers, particularly roses. So, as time went on, I picked up a lot of self-taught training in all of the above, especially photography. It eventually grew into a hobby, then a sideline as a wedding and portrait photography business that kept Carol and I busier than we really wanted to be. Advertising was strictly by word-of-mouth, but we still booked at least two weddings a month and then some. It was certainly lucrative, but the business and production part became gruesome. It didn’t kill my love for photography, but only kindled my thirst for another outlet. Finally, after at least twelve years of watching and recording couples getting hitched, we decided to pull the plug. Some day, I hope to write a book about the escapades we were witness to, as well as the beautiful tear-jerkers that kept us going back again and again.
My early retirement from GTE in 1998 found me jumping into Adobe Photoshop books with both feet, so I could take the test and earn an Adobe Certified Expert certificate, which I accomplished about a year later. This was the beginning of what has been an amazing few years. In September of 2003, Carol and I were on a well-earned vacation, when the revelation came to me, that I had the tools to do what I wanted to do, but hadn't been able to before. That is, making photos of flowers look more like what a painter sees when creating oils with a brush ... still a photo, but with every flower standing out as though a painter concentrated and reproduced every component. I couldn’t wait to get home and try it and much to my surprise and delight, it worked. Only months later, I had pieces on display and invitations to participate in art shows. It was hard to swallow, the first time a patron asked me, “Are you the ‘artist’?” I nearly turned around to see if someone was standing behind me. The term “photographer” was something I could readily accept, but this new “artist” moniker was a bit of a surprise. Never having done the art circuit, and experiencing the camaraderie, the interaction and learning that it involves, we have come to develop the deepest respect for the profession. These fellow artists have reciprocated by giving us priceless advice and endless encouragement. I consider it an honor to be counted among them.
Creating the works on these pages has been a joy that places second only my faith, being happily married to Carol and having two wonderful children, Laura and Scott. My primary work is with flowers, but I’ve got a few other things in the works that I hope to share in the near future.
Please understand that I don’t want us, (you and me) to get caught up in the mechanization of online ordering thing that seems to “cheapen” every aspect of mass produced products. I want to interact with my clientele, much the same way I would with a patron at an art show or gallery. So, if you like my work, you know how to contact me and we can share samples of my work, and you can see what I do up close. Then, and only then, will we negotiate the terms and finalize your ownership of a piece of my artwork/photography.
