Born, and raise in the city by the Bay, Born in the Presidio, Raise in the Mission District.

 

I have being taking photos since 1972, so I trained at Mission High School in San Francsico, and then as the story goes, did do the High School Newspaper, and Yearbook, follow by 3 years at CCSF(City College of San Francisco, and then another 3 years at the Academy of Art College. Received my BA Degree which I made my father cry, and was very proud. Then I did 3 years doing Fashion Photography, and then work at a Camera Store. Now I do Travel Documentary Photography, and contining to help students that still shoot film, and to begin a photo film language to continued in shooting film. I also collect old cameras, and movies from the 1930's to 1960's on DVD's. I still used a Film camera, but also have a digital camera, but I like film, and scan them. I'm starting to shoot with a Holga, and recently got a Holga Pinhole Panoramic camera, and now a Twin Lens Holga, Fisheye2, Bluebird TLR35mm camera.

 

I have been to places like: Denmark, France, Germany, UK, Japan, Belarus, Philippines, and Canada. At the Lomography web site - It states Rule #1 - ALWAYS CARRY YOUR CAMERA-may what ever you carry - record that image.

 

For my basic gear that I have are just used 35mm rangefinder camera like the Canon7, Yashica YF, and the Kiev4(Contax Copy) which I love the optics from the famous brand of the Carl Zeiss Jena line, and still have my trusted 1968, and 69 Nikon F with all Nikkor lens. I'm from the old school. And when I shoot a roll of film that I use any what I can use, Either Brand of film. And if I have to either push or pull the speed of the film well that is my reason depending on the light scene.. I like to break the rules too...

 

In closing that in the years in what I love to do that I think for myself that I have achieved in what I love to do in my photography, I do not like to get gadget plug ins for my computer, and cameras. Is what I do - is shoot, process, scan, edit, correct, save, and print. That is it. Whats more important the gadgets that will take more memory or the photograph? If its the gadgets you want, then your not a photographer, or what I call it Geek Bond Wanna be Shooter. A GPS unit on top of a Nikon D700 or an 800? Whats wrong with a compass, and map? Get real people - create, and Teach them...

 

For me my teacher told me this: If you have a system USE IT, do not let others show you how you have a special way of taking a photograph in what media that you used if it is Film from 35mm to Medium to Large Format it is the image that is important. As for Digital use Yes I do have a digital camera in both DSLR to the smallest point & shoot to the basic $10.00 pocket model

 

Now I know that film is slowly phasing away first it was Kodak, and since 2005 that they have eliminated at least 20 types of film, and also Kodachrome, and also all their remaining Ektachrome now the latest that they took out was Tmax 3200 B/W film, and also the other film company Efke film they are gone as well. But their is other companies that are still producing: Ilford, Arista, and Kentmere, Adox, and Fuji are still producing film, I know that some of the people mostly students that I knew switch back to film again, and are very please in the results, is where you have connections to buy film.

 

Brands of Adox Ilford, Efke, Kodak, Rollei, Fuji and Maybe Agfa can remain in production but to what cost? Still I love shooting film, and I am not a gadget freak when it comes to using in what type of camera that I use, I still get second looks when they see pull out a 40 year old model. There are at least maybe 100 or more web sites of film shooters still shooting and I'm very proud that they are keeping film alive. I have been shooting since 1972, and I did not trained to listen to a so called to have him or her to use their way, I was trained to develop my OWN style of shooting, and I have used ALL the films that I shot, and in were I work being at the store for 28 years and I have never seen how much of these new digital shooters still cannot shoot a photo without bragging and it's the film shooters that I rather be with it and fully respect them all.

 

And that I have shot: Kodak-Tx400, Fuji Neopan400, and 1600, Ilford FP4+ but I rated at ISO 200, HP5 400, Agfa in both B&W, and Color, Remember Agfacolor 1000, and Agfachrome1000, and Efke-BW film, Scotch-3M Color print film, Konica in both color Neg, and Slide, and finally Polaroid. You cannot tell students to use one type of film, that, their is NO CREATIVITY, and not leaving them open minded.

 

Some Photo Teachers can be Nazis because they are the teacher and also what is sad that they will not teach you the history of photography-that is how sad that I have to help these students, and I always tell them to be very much Creative People..

 

Develop your own Style, and Be proud in what you have to use in your photography. I say BREAK THE RULES! Use in what you want to express your views, and feelings. Look at the Lomography web site, their you will see people who have Style in using Holgas, Lomo's, Bluebird's, and other various cameras. I think that this web site is the BEST Photography Web site.

 

A great photographer said this, which I really do believed it he said this: "No Photographer is As Good as the Simplest Camera" - Edward Stiechen said it when during the Family of Man Exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. That was in the 1950's.

 

To be a shooter with a good eye that you have to know history of Photography, but some teachers just want to slep it while they are teaching the short cut way... How sad...

 

Develop a Style People, Make your own Rules...