Artist’s Statement
With over two decades of experience in both film (preferred) and digital photography, my work explores themes of isolation, impermanence, and the real presence of nature as I’ve traveled the expansive Sierra Nevada range of mountains and the American West. I favor the disciplined process of medium format film and traditional darkroom techniques to render compositions, often from the remote areas I travel. I capture most of my color images with a digital camera. I’ve been a student of Ansel Adams and his Zone System for tone, having lived in his back yard for over forty years; I try to perfect this in each black and white image. Also, film photography forces the photographer to adapt to a much slower process which, to me, provides the time to get the capture perfect. Finally, film captures images with a distinct look and feel that is almost impossible to replicate with digital cameras. Film has an organic look that includes grain (not noise), colors, and dynamic range, giving images depth and character that feel genuine and nostalgic. The true test lies in how the finished work meets the viewer’s eye, just as I first saw the scene.
My goal is to bring my viewers along with me visually and spiritually into the same scenes that I’ve encountered in areas they may never be able to physically reach. Hopefully, they will feel the same drama, compassions and inspirations I will never forget.