I began serious photography in 1976, using an all-manual, 35 mm camera, and Kodachrome 25 slide film. In the 1980's I was a staff photographer on my College Newspaper and Yearbook, 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, some correspondence study, 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. In 1984, I graduated from The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law. I followed up several years later with a Masters of Science in Taxation from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan. My day job for 25 years, has been an Estate Planning and Business Attorney. You can learn more about that aspect of my life at my Michigan Estate Planning Blog.

I live in Saginaw, Michigan am married, and have two children, one embarked on her own career and the other in his junior 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. I also like to do internet research and to write about my thoughts and experiences on my Light Centric Photography Blog.

My "Bag"

For the gearheads (and I confess, I am one), I currently shoot with a Nikon D700, and have a 60mm "micro" lens, a 300mm f2.8, a17-35mm zoom a 28-200mm zoom and a 70-300mm zoom. The D700 is a move back to so-called "full frame" and I am experimenting with the "right" lens combinations. I shoot from a tripod, and use a cable release 90% of the time. I recently updated my Bogen QR Plate System to an Arca Swiss Style QR system and added the Kirk Enterprises "L" Bracket to my equipment. The "L" bracket, in my view, is a "must have" tripod accessory. I believe in using a tripod of the highest quality and most rigid materials the budget will allow. I am currently using Carbon Fiber Legs and a ball head by Induro. I have purchased the second largest diameter legs and the second largest ball head they offer.

The only filters I use are a circular polarizer and neutral density filters. I use a Woolrich travel vest I bought for under $50 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 just makes it worse). I 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 (XP Professional). My printer is an Epson R1900, and I am currently using Adobe Photoshop, CS4 for post processing and Adobe LightRoom for Image management.