Former illustrator, sommelier, restaurant manager/partner, webmaster, computer network engineer and pool boy. Lived in Yosemite National Park for many years, working in the hotels. Recently a technical assistant at the US EPA, now retired, based in San Francisco, California, and I'm edging toward just doing photography independently.

Photography, to me, is a dynamic medium of artistic expression, a way to see and interpret our world from myriad new aspects - and to share these visions and explorations. It's also a great opportunity to learn from others...

I'm an amateur, having started out in 35mm and medium-format film, mostly B&W, studying the basics in college. Didn't really shoot much for a long stretch, then eased back into it in December 2006. I formerly did a smidge of professional art direction and editing, however.

Lately have been using a variety of mostly DSLR cameras - originally Pentax, now mainly Nikon - plus have several Canon pocket cameras, and picked up a flash camcorder for kicks. I generally shoot in raw format, and fine-tune with Photoshop and other apps for special image processing challenges. I'm more a plodding-deliberative rather than quick-shot kind of guy.

Confession: I've really been more of an image editor than a shooter thus far; but I'm trying to remedy the situation.

In my dreams, I'm using a classic view camera, or a new Hasselblad with an arsenal of HC lenses and a Phase One back, and have an uncomplaining assistant to carry all the gear to and fro' my imaginary yacht's studio. (I'd settle for a funky old Mamiya, a pair of their lenses, and a rowboat, however.) Why that gear? The larger format should be better for some of the landscape, architectural and portrait shots I'd like to do.

Most of these shots are rather no-frills studies, without added borders, overlays or special manipulation for effects - although I sometimes run amok, for the sheer fun of it, usually on rainy days. Understanding, controlling and augmenting the lighting are my main concerns, for now, along with composition and the search for meaningful subjects. I like to tell stories with images - usually about my home area and friends, hopefully from a different viewpoint.

Generally, the images here are best viewed at a large size, because the originals are invariably at a much higher resolution and have considerably more detail, tonality and color fidelity. All of the photos are copyrighted; please do not use without permission. Some are available as Chromira, UltraChrome or Giclée art prints.

The photostream can be viewed on black in FLUIDR.

please don't

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