Various Subjects

When I saw the above quote from John Loengard, I could only wish that I had been clever enough to say it myself. He has, in just a few words, summed up a great portion of my attitude toward photography. Hoot!--there are so many photographs that are nothing more than pretty pictures with predictable compositions and perhaps a splash of vivid color. They are boring photographs of interesting subjects. Our attention is better held by interesting photographs of boring subjects. I will make photographs of anything that I think I might like to see again, if I can create an interesting presentation of the subject. Generally, though not always, I look for strong graphic components that impart energy to a still image.

It's unlikely that you'll like every photograph on this web site, nor in the galleries of any other photographer. But I hope that you'll agree that the collection here is not just another batch of "pretty pictures."

Everything in the desert pricks, sticks, stings, or bites. Cacti are no exception. I got a few cactus bits in my shoes and trousers while making these photographs. They resisted removal. Still, it was worth the effort and inconvenience to explore the areas and appreciate these plants. Most were photographed at Saguaro National Monument.

When creating the files to print my photographs, I'm mostly involved with just color balance and density (lightness and darkness). Occasionally, though, I like to experiment with digital manipulations. With an attitude of "if it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing in excess," I take digital alteration to bizarre and surreal results. Sometimes the effort is worthwhile.