Creative Portraiture

A large part of my concentration is photographing people. I enjoy the complexities and challenges of working with human subjects. There are many variables involved and many ways to change the emotion of an image. Light is everything. Years ago I would only have used natural light, but these days it's all about flash. I'm not trying to say that a good image can't come from natural lighting, but I have grown to love flash. For me to shoot someone in a studio against a plain backdrop is practically unheard of. There is a lack of atmosphere and mood, not to mention the adventure of finding some place new to shoot. It is also rewarding to overcome the challenge of placing your subject in an unfamiliar location. I'm always bringing a client to a new setting, sometimes 'the great outdoors' and other times gritty, urban environments.

Earthbound Luminance

I have always enjoyed photographing nature and in the past I've done a lot of work with many kinds of flowers. When I took portraiture as my main medium and began using flash, I began to neglect my love of nature photography. When I eventually returned I decided to utilize my new-found techniques, so I began working with flash. Although many of the plants I am photographing do grow flowers at one point or another, my main focus is on their leaves. While the flowers do play another important role in the plants cycle, it is not the only part that holds beauty. In some cases I fill the entire frame with the blade of the leaf, allowing close-up views of the lateral veins, the midrib, the epidermal cells and the pores. Other times I allow for a view of both the leaf blade and its environment, separated by the margin of the blade.

My obsession with wireless flash has evolved the way I photograph plant life. I generally try to use the flash in ways that it still feels like natural light, but at other times I will throw
in something a little more dramatic. The flash not only allows for a detailed look into the plant's leaf system, but is also a symbol of the photosynthesis process. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen as a waste product. Think about the kinds of waste products that humans release, and then think about our growing population as opposed to the decreasing amount of plants around the globe.

In my photographs of these beautiful plants, my hope is that their beauty will allow you to further appreciate our environment.

Dancing Embers

is a series titled after the poetic display that only flames can deliver. In this series I try to capture the essence of fire with its mesmerizing beauty and chaotic behavior. It is also interesting to observe its relationship with other objects and elements. Rather than viewing it as a form of light or a source of heat, I try to present the idea of fire as a living entity. Dancing Embers is a work-in-progress derived from my curiosity and perhaps even obsession over this element. Photographing fire has been one of my biggest challenges thus far, which is part of why I enjoy it so much. Trying to control a subject that cannot be controlled is an interesting experience. Fire is spectacular in its natural state, and with photography I can capture the majesty of its deadly waltz.