I have been a passionate landscape and nature photographer for over 50 years, capturing images across nearly every state and National Park west of the Mississippi River. My journey began with an Argus C-3 camera, the most affordable option available to me at the time, during my early studies in photography. Over the years, I transitioned to more advanced equipment, including a Nikon FTN 35mm camera and a Graflex 2 ¼ by 3 ¼ cut film camera. It was during this period that I set up a darkroom, processing over 30,000 individual black-and-white images, most of which were taken in the Chicago area and its western suburbs as part of academic assignments.
My interest in landscape photography deepened when I had the opportunity to attend a class where renowned photographer Ansel Adams was a guest lecturer. This experience inspired me to pursue formal education, first in Electronics and Computer Science, which allowed me to fund my photography pursuits, and later in Professional Photography, to deepen my expertise.
After completing my education, I traveled extensively to refine my craft, shifting my focus to color photography, particularly slide film, which rendered a more vibrant and accurate representation of the natural world. I continued to use my Nikon FTN, gradually adding wide-angle and telephoto lenses. While that camera has since been retired, it remains in working order, a testament to its durability. In 2002, I relocated from Illinois to the Houston area in Texas. Around this time, I won a Canon SX130 camera, a digital point-and-shoot model with programmable options that allowed for more creative freedom. The improvement in color rendition was immediately noticeable, prompting me to switch from Nikon to Canon. I invested in several Canon digital single-lens reflex cameras over the years (T5, T7, 90D, 5D mark iv), along with lenses and accessories, to continue honing my skills.
The images you see here represent just a small selection of the several hundred thousand photographs I've taken with Canon cameras. Every one of them featured here has either won an award or has been published in national magazines or on calendars. Each image is meticulously "over-processed" to bring out intricate color details, though the final prints available for purchase accurately reflect the colors as seen in nature, and can be ordered as prints, mounted prints, and canvas of varying sizes.