biography I'm not sure exactly when I became interested in photography, but quite possibly it was when I was a 13 year old Illinois flatlander, on a vacation to Western America. I had wanted to see the West for years since drooling over mountain photos in magazines. It turned out to be one of those crazy, whirlwind family vacations. You know the type-where your dad insists that you log as many miles as you possibly can, visiting every National Park & classic americana tourist trap in 3 weeks, even though you never actually see anything! WHEW! I remember stopping at Wall Drug for free water, waving at the Tetons, & my dad driving for days in southern California searching for Wally World (He still claims it's there somwhere!). Nevertheless, I was enchanted by what I had seen & I knew that someday I would move westward when I was "old enough". To my dad's credit, he did equip me with the classic Kodak Instamatic Camera which I used to record the beautiful, but fleeting scenery passing by in the front windshield of the motorhome.....I believe it was the start of things to come..... I've always loved art classes in school, but it wasn't until I was a high school senior in DeLand, Florida when I decided to give photography a try. I was encouraged by my teacher to pursue photography further, so I enrolled at the Southeastern Center for Photographic Studies at nearby Daytona Beach Jr. College. I received an A.S. degree in Professional Photography in December of 1984. I spent 8 years in commercial photography while living in Colorado, Illinois & finally Washington where I currently reside. Much of my spare time was spent building my image files by shooting landscapes & other natural light scenes while exploring north america, knowing that I eventually would become a fine-art photographer. The natural world is so incredibly beautiful & diverse. I love the searching and wandering, looking for any dramatic photo oppurtunity that presents itself, being aware of the drama of changing light and how it interplays on the landscape, then reacting to it. I prefer to shoot black and white film because it simplifies the image and subject by putting the emphasis on composition, light, form and the texture, not it's color.                       "A joy shared is a joy doubled" Goethe My work is in the following collections: Washinton University, Saint Louis, MO Valley Mecical Center, Renton, WA Northfork Bank, New York, NY Orlando Sentinel Newspaper, Orlando, FL Boston Scientific Corp., Redmond, WA Cary-Grove High School, Cary, IL Group Exhibitions: Aug-Sept 2006 ~ Black & White, Shanahan Gallery, Astoria, OR Nov 2005 ~ Scott/Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA April 2005 ~ The Other Roadside Attraction, Mount Vernon, WA Feb 2004 ~ Scott/Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA Jan 2003 ~ Members show, Kirkland Art Center, Kirkland, WA Nov-Dec 2004,03,02 ~ Northwinds Art Center, Port Townsend, WA Feb-May 2001 ~ Photo Montage Gallery, LaConner, WA Jan 1998 ~ Commencement Art Gallery, Tacoma, WA Sept-Oct 1997 ~ Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR Dec 1996 - March 1997 ~ Penelope Loucas Gallery Tacoma, WA 1996 & 1993 ~ Associated Arts Photo Show, Ocean Shores, WA April-June 1994 DeLand Art Museum, DeLand, Fl Nov-Dec 1994 ~ Site Line Gallery, Olympia, WA Dec 1993-Jan 1994 ~ Penelope Loucas Gallery, Tacoma, WA Dec 1993-Jan 1994 ~ Site Line Gallery, Olympia, WA Oct-Nov 1993 Guest Artist at Freighthouse Art Gallery, Tacoma, WA Sept 1991 & 1992 ~ NW Int'l Exhibition of Photography, Puyallup, WA Nov 1988 ~ Solo show, Dundee Library, Dundee, IL 1984-1986 ~ "The Florida Document" a 3 year traveling show March 1984 ~ Area Photo Show, Art League of Daytona Beach, FL March-April 1982 ~ "Volusia Students Create" Stetson University, DeLand, FL Media/Publications: Mar 2005 ~ Photo on cover of poetry book "Almost Paradise" by                 Sam Hamill. Feb 2005 ~ Color photo chosen for Tom Haseltine card line. Feb 2004 ~ Cover photo in "Jefferson County Week" section of the                 Port Townsend Leader Newspaper. Mar 1996 ~ Photo chosen for cover of "Imagemaker", the journal for                 the Luminos Printmakers Guild.       1996 ~ 4 color photos chosen for the coffee table book "Tacoma,                 Tomorrows City Today". Oct 1995 ~ Orlando Sentinel Newspaper feature story on my                  photography. Oct 1994 ~ Daytona Beach News Journal feature story on my                 photography.       1989 ~ Photo chosen for the "Best of Photography Annual". I have been the recipient of more than 50 awards for my photography