My professional career really started in Hollywood in 1980 when I took a job managing a small camera store on the sunset strip. Right next door was the studio of , Hungarian Photographer Martin Szipal (Martin S. Martin as he was known in Hollywood). I began hanging out with watch him ,assisting him in both the studio and the darkroom. Martin was a genius and we connected and I learned lighting for black and white portraits from him, which has taken me 30 years to master . I started freelancing in 1981 and did work for AP, LA Weekly, LA Herald Examiner, public relations firms and many other clients. I covered man concerts Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and more. While fine art is my always my end goal, I consider portraiture to be my favorite of my fine art photography . With portraits I work to create a connection with my subjects and when that happens it's communicated to the viewer. I always strive to reach the tones of the blacks and the whites. |
Why so much black and white and so little color? For me, black and white captures the message that lies beneath the surface of color. I do reach for color when the image demands it. I am always open for different ways to approach my art, it's what drives me creatively.