Although I had been
making personal photographs from the start, it was in 1992 that
I acquired a 4"x5" view camera. It was a perfect match for me
as I developed a contemplative approach to photography. Also in
that year I attended the Zone VI Workshop taught by Fred Picker.
In 2005, with the help of a generous grant from the Vermont Arts
Council, I attended a two week workshop with John Sexton at Anderson
Ranch in Colorado. Both workshops have helped tremendously to
sharpen my skills and refine my perception.
I now work mostly
with my 4x5 view camera. Lately I've also been using a Pentax
67 for handheld work. I find a quiet joy in searching for potential
photographs, tending to look for them in places I simply love
being in. Once I've found something of interest, I experience
a centering calm as I visualize the final print, set up the camera
and carefully compose the image on the ground glass. While printing,
I take as much time as I need to produce a print that feels right.
I am an amateur in the true sense of the word; I make photographs
simply because I enjoy doing it.