My favorite theme is the commonplace viewed in an uncommon way: an overlooked detail in a landscape or street, a fleeting occurrence of light and shadow, motion or stillness. Hidden patterns and abstractions are all around us, but we need to stop and look to recognize their presence. In my works, I strive to send you a visual message describing the wonder of discovery that I felt when first encountering the image that has finally been captured in print.

I have had an abiding interest in photography and painting from my earliest years, and have been making photographs for over thirty-five years. My favorite subject matter is commonplace objects or locations viewed in an uncommon way. Sometimes, I may home in on an overlooked detail in a large landscape setting. Other times, I capture a chance occurrence of light and shadow, motion or stillness, never to return. I try to find hidden or overlooked patterns and abstractions just waiting to be found. There is a visual message in my images, and I want the viewer to find it after a few moments.

I have been inspired by the photographers Eugene Atget and his quiet Paris scenes, and Henri Cartier-Bresson and his concept of the critical moment of a photograph. My main photography inspiration is Harry Callahan and his unique observations of landscape and urban settings. Other sources of inspiration in my photographs are Claude Monet and his diminution of a broad landscape into an introspective look at a small detail.

I take my time contemplating the image I want to capture. When I arrive at a location, I like to get acquainted and “in synch” with the surroundings before starting to photograph. I often use a tripod which helps me slow down the entire visualization process, and I attempt to compose the image so that the final print that you see is what I saw originally in the camera viewfinder. Although I typically manipulate the original photograph in the “digital darkroom” of the computer, my goal is not to perform digital trickery, but rather to bring out the message of what I saw and felt the moment that I found the image before me.