Artist Bio

In 2012, I traveled to southeast Asia with a point and shoot camera and iPhone. With bustling street markets, magnificent coastlines, sacred temples, expansive rice fields, floating villages, unfamiliar animals, and warm interesting people in Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam, I wanted to capture the images, emotions and scenes in a way to match my memories. Because I wasn’t satisfied with the results, for a year or two I couldn’t stop thinking about buying a “good” camera and learning the art of photography. It wasn’t a new thought but it became somewhat of an obsession. Because I was approaching retirement, I made the decision to invest in a DSLR camera, take some classes and express how I saw the world through photographs.

I bought a Nikon and my first class was a free 90 minute introduction at Richard Stromberg’s Chicago Photography Classes (RSCPC)*. I was immediately hooked! I signed up for Photo I and have continued on for 6 years with several more classes and photo workshops. I also participated in a show there, with 6 of my photos taken along Lake Michigan near my home. Teaching the Lightroom lab for Photo I students at the school has also been rewarding. 

Because of connections at RSCPC, I began to go on a few photography trips. The first was to the Scottish Highlands with Danny Howard of Photo Travel Bug* and Jim Welninski of Altered Space Phototribe*. I next went to Cuba with William Vazquez* and James M. Cole.  Following that I went to The Palouse with John Barclay Photography*. My last trip was to the Louisiana Swamp near Breaux Bridge with Charles Bush Photography*. These photo trips have been so valuable to my development as an artist and have connected me with photographers from all over the country. It has been an invaluable way to improve my photography with the added bonus of traveling to great places with interesting people.

I’ve created this website to showcase my photos to family and friends. After being a mathematics teacher at the junior high, high school and college level, and a fundraiser for college athletics, photography has provided me with a new creative outlet. My next step is to begin entering photo contests and add some more credibility to my resume as a photographer.

* Please see the “Recommendations” page for links.