For most of my teens and twenties, I was immersed in the world of jazz. As I studied it and played it, I appreciated the profound connection between creative freedom and technical mastery. It takes countless hours of studying theory, practicing technique, and learning a piece of music before you can find true freedom of expression. When the technical aspects of performing became secondary, my ability to express my emotions fully were realized.
I've brought the lessons I learned through playing jazz into my photographic work. To create a successful image, the technique of the camera and the interplay between myself and the subject must all be in line for that one critical moment of exposure. Each breath of wind, passing cloud, and film loaded in a holder determines the outcome of my work.
I photograph exclusively with large-format film. The large-format camera requires mastering the technical aspects, and each type of transparency film is unique.
Once I'm under the dark cloth, viewing the image on the ground glass, all peripheral vision is gone, and it's just me and my image. The view of the subject on the ground glass allows for a different perspective, and I can break down the composition into basic shapes, textures, and lines. Because of the slow, methodical pace of the large-format cameras and film, I find myself looking more deeply into the landscape. The long shutter speeds require absolute stillness, forcing me to analyze the scene for every quivering leaf. I must fe
