voyeuristic exhibitionist...anarchistic democrat with republican ideals...flowing & crashing like water...

as salaam alaikum, shalom, peace!

i was given my first camera in 1980 by my father. i immediately went to the local grocery store, purchased a roll of film, & started asking people if i could take their picture. most people were a bit taken aback by my approach, which was not overly intrusive or stalkerish in nature, but because i was a 14 year old kid with a big ass grin on my face. basically, i found most could not refuse my charm!

i am unable to showcase all my work because i had 80% of it stolen from my truck a few years ago. i had nothing stored on disc or a hard drive. i carried several portfolios & my negatives with the contact sheets. the actual amount stolen was very low in dollar amount but it was priceless in what i had captured & would never be able to retrieve again. i am still suffering from the loss.

i have a wide range of likes & loves. i prefer to shoot film...color, b&w, & slide. i like the idea of shooting digital only because it gives me an instant review of what i just shot. but i am a firm believer of what is in the frame stays in the frame...in the condition it was captured. that means that i take the time to compose the shot, recognize what will be included & adjust as i shoot. it is not a perfect science but it is my creation. i am not a fan of extreme post processing or photoshop, yet i have done it at times.

i believe the human form is the most interesting subject to photograph. as i walk down the street i look at people & see them as if i am looking thru my lens. my oakley's are hiding my eyes so most are unaware i am looking. i generally work nites so then my gaze is visible...but then it looks as if i am being the overseer because i am in uniform. i can't win for losing.

i will be retiring soon & plan to open a studio & shoot full time. in the meantime, i will continue to shoot what catches my eye, present some of it here on flickr, hope it gives another great joy to view, & make some lasting contacts.

@--%------

<3<3xoxoxoxo<3<3

peace, love & blessings...

chad

i live my life by the following philosophy...

"empty your mind. be formless, shapeless like water. now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. now water can flow or it can crash. be water, my friend"...bruce lee