Having graduated high school in 1978, I had initially decided against college and spent a “gap year” working as a plumber. Good job skill and pay, but I was feeling left behind with all of my friends off at school. Having now realized that college was the way I wanted to go, I had decided to follow my passion of photography and go for a fine arts degree. I had recently purchased my first new camera, an Olympus OM-1 and was getting serious with it in my explorations around the city. I was already enrolled in school and waiting on summer session to begin. It was during that time that I made this image in Detroit’s Shelby Square. At the time, all I was seeing was the graphic quality and I thought it was probably the best photograph I had ever made. It continued its place as a prized image in my portfolio for several years until I lost track of it in the volume of imagery I was now creating. What I find wonderful in my rediscovery of this photograph is that it contained so very much more than that graphic quality that caught my young eye. The things […]
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Ok, so I’ve been around in this business for awhile and am a bit jaded. Work is exciting, but the whole scene is a bit over the top with blasts of excitement followed by the usual work that fills the in-between. My excitement comes from sharing times with others, including some of my best friends in the business. After all, we’re all in this because of the sheer wonder and love of what we do. Alone, it can become mundane like anything, but when we get together… it can be dangerous. When you’re in the company of people who have your same interests and passions, those times can explode into life experience that will never be forgotten. One such occurrence recently happened on the Iceland: Summit 2017 workshop and excursion I led along with my good friend and photographer extraordinaire, Kerik Kouklis. Top it off with another good friend, Canadian artist, Jennifer Crane from Halifax via University of Saskatoon. Then toss in Kerik Kouklis’ daughter, Sarah Kouklis a fine artist in her own right and knower of all things Lightroom and it was a team that simply has to get back together to do it all again in 2018.
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I’m very proud to announce the debut exhibition of my recent Detroit work that will take place in Toronto this September/October! Opening September 21 and running through the 8th of October with an opening reception which I will be attending happening on Saturday, September 24th from 7:00 – 9:00PM, the show will feature 20 photographs from “Detroit: Where We Used to Live”. The Charlotte Hale Gallery at 588 Markham Street is the place to be and I hope you’ll be able to join me there!
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It’s hard to believe that it has now been ten years since the release of my book, Gathering Calm: Photographs 1994-2004! It was an amazing experience putting together my first hardcover monograph and it’s hard to believe how much has changed since then. Both in my own career as well as photography in general. The book, originally printed in a first edition of 1000, was received extremely well, better than I could have imagined. Little did I know back then what a difficult time it can be moving a book and I was lucky enough to sell out the complete first printing in less than a year. Five years later, there was a second edition made in a smaller run and those too will be gone before too long. It is definitely the last printing as to be honest, I never thought I’d sell out the first. What I’ve decided to do is to offer one of the remaining copies along with a choice of four, palladium prints for a very special price that will be announced soon. These four prints were included in the book and are among favorite of mine to print. I’m extremely proud of these recent […]
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In the Workshop ———- It’s said that the beginning is the most important part of the work and I’ve been working the better part of two years now to get this studio in the north of Michigan ready. I’ve been wondering if I’d ever get beyond all it takes to construct the space and get on to the work for which it was intended. Finally, I’ve gotten there and with the three workshops scheduled during Photostock2015, the place was nearly at full potential. There were the usual, organizational issues faced when moving into a new space, but those I’ve found fun. With each class, we were able to work out the kinks and things ran more smoothly by the day. Every instructor had very helpful suggestions and I was fortunate to have them here to help out. Even with all the advanced planning, It isn’t until you actually start working in a space that you realize what’s needed to get a comfortable and productive workflow going. Upon completion of the festival and courses, I was soon to find the joys of having such a space in which to work. The place was ready to go and I was able to […]
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For all practical purposes, the workshop begun in May of 2013 and funded in large part by not one, but two successful Kickstarter campaigns, is completed inside and out! It has been a long road with many twists, turns, ups and downs, but we’re there and ready to fly. Major work was completed just in time for the first Photostock2015 workshop on June 11, 2015 with Kerik Kouklis in the platinum/palladium process. Then, three days later, Clay Harmon taught a class in Polymer Photogravure followed three days after that with a class on Tri-Color Gum with Christina Z. Anderson. The classes were well attended and a great time was had by all. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be at this stage and can’t thank everyone enough who helped with their belief and support. Please stay tuned for more!
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Yep… It’s time to get the workshop done so we can finally put away the construction tools and get this workshop finished. You guessed it, I’m running another Kickstarter with hopes lightning might strike twice and help provide the funds. Since completing the original campaign, I’ve gone a lot farther than I thought I could, but at the same time I’ve been saving scarce dollars by completing much of the work myself. I’m no where near old, but I am admitting to myself that I’m not a young man anymore and it has taken a physical toll on me as well. Most reading this know of my back issues and it has been a bit stressful tossing around 70 lb sheets of drywall. What I’m hoping is that by raising additional funds, I can hire out the remaining work to someone who is younger and knows better how to do all of this stuff. Still, I’m proud of what’s been accomplished this summer since the Photostock Festival. Those of you there this year saw roughed in walls, loose wires and insulation. Now the darkroom, utility and bathroom have finished, painted walls and we are well on the way to having […]
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I’m just back from another trip up to Iceland where I led a fantastic group of photographers. It was a really hard working and dedicated crew and they pushed me to a higher level as well. We worked the very last bit of light of every day and it has resulted in work that I feel among my best from this beautiful landscape. This includes “Wave Patterns – Höfn, Iceland”, the print I am offering here for a limited time. It was the last full night of our adventure and proved to be perhaps the most magical. As with all offers I make of these smaller prints, this is an open edition printing and comes unmatted and unframed as shown. With an image size of 4.5 inches square on an 8×10 inch sheet of paper. this hand made, silver gelatin print has a beautiful sepia/selenium split-tone. Signed provenance and suggestions for mounting and framing will be included with your print. As always, your satisfaction is assured. Thanks for having a look! Order Here!
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I’m thrilled to have an interview that has been published in one of my favored blogs, Rfotofolio. “Seeing the Beauty” is now available for a visit and I would like to invite you to have a look. They’ve done a really nice job and it gave me a chance to focus on some of my Detroit work from over the years. I’m very proud of the outcome and hope you’ll enjoy. Seeing the Beauty @ Rfotofolio
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After being delayed, reprinted and finally shipped to all of those contributing on a certain level to the Photostock Workshop Kickstarter earlier in 2013, Waterside – Great Lakes is now available in the Store! Containing 21 beautifully printed, tritone reproductions, I couldn’t be happier with this little, softcover book. All photographs were made over a 20 year span along the shores of the Great Lakes. Order Here!
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