BIO: Short Version

BIO: Long Version

Short Version -
I was born in 1957. I began serious photography at age 20, using an all-manual, 35 mm camera, using primarily Kodachrome 25 slide film. In the 1980's I was a staff photographer on my College Newspaper and Yearbook during my Junior and Senior years, where I learned to develop B&W film and prints in the darkroom. I have no formal training in photography, aside from a number of professional critiques and the occasional workshop or seminar.

I graduated from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, MI, in 1981 with a dual major in U.S. History and Economics & Business Administration (then a combined program at Hillsdale). In 1984, I graduated from The Catholic University of America’s “Columbus School of Law.” I follow up several years later with a Masters of Science in Taxation from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan. My “real job” is and has been for 23 years, as an estate planning and business attorney. You can learn more about that aspect of my life at http://www.michiganestateplanning.blogspot.com.

I live in Saginaw, Michigan am married, and have two children, one embarked on her own career and the other in his freshman year in college.

I am an avid reader of books on Photography, Photoshop, and Digital Photography and have at least 36 inches of shelf space devoted to such books.

For the “gearheads” (and I confess, I am one), I currently shoot with a Nikon D200, and have a Nikkor 60mm “micro”, a Sigma 14mm f2.8, a Tokina AT-X 300mm f2.8, and a Nikkor 18-200 VR zoom, which has become my “workhorse.” I use two different Manfrotto legsets. One is smaller and more portable (for travel--mostly flight), and a lightweight magnesium Manfrotto Ballhead, and a larger set (that I modified for my height by replacing the top leg sections with thinwall conduit, to add about 6 inches. It makes the tripod heavier, unfortunately), with a Manfrotto gimbal type head to support my 300 f2.8. I shoot from a tri-pod, and use a cable release any time it is possible. The only filter I use is a circular polarizer. I use a Woolrich travel vest I bought for under $50 from an outlet mall when in the field, preferring the weight distribution and ease of access (yes, I look like a dork, but I don’t view my photography about looking good. Besides, there are those that say I look like a dork, and that adding the vest makes it even worse!). I have recently found a cable solution and have added a handheld GPS to the mix. The jury is still out on whether I’ll continue that. I do carry a small Nikon flash, but use it rather sparingly, to add some fill light or a little “pop” on certain occasions.

My “darkroom” is Windows based. My computer is a laptop with an AMD Turion 64 processor and Windows XP professional software. My printer is one the older dye-based ink, Epson 1280's.