Well, I'd like to not turn this into a story about my life, but how can one introduce oneself to an audience without doing exactly that? So - I'll try not to bore you.
I'm a farm boy of sorts, having grown up in the small northern Minnesota town of Fosston, where I earned my spending money working farm jobs. I gave college a shot, but really only stayed enrolled at Concordia College as I was singing in their well known concert choir. Eventually I dropped out, only to join the United States Air Force where I went immediately back to school to become a Czech linguist, which landed me smack in the middle of Europe.
I spent nearly all of the ‘80s in Augsburg, Germany (then West Germany), first on active duty, then working in IT at VII Corps Arty HQ as a Dept. of Army Civilian. During that time, I went back to school, finishing my B.A. at the University of Maryland, and completing a M.S. in Systems Management with the University of Southern California. I also traveled extensively, managing to see most of Western Europe and part of Eastern Europe, and soaking up as much of the culture and traditions of the people in the country I was visiting as I possibly could. This experience truly shaped my life.
After returning to the States in 1990, I called San Antonio, Texas my home. During the next decade plus I worked as an IT manager, a Marketing and Operations manager, and later had a small advertising agency of my own.
I suppose the point to all that background information is that I bring a very diverse set of life experiences with me, and find that it shapes how I view the world, which of course means it shapes how I view the world through the camera's lens.
During all this time I have shot photos - which I've done since winning a 4H contest as a young lad of roughly 9 or so.
I've shot, photographed, or directed numerous shoots for brochure work and marketing campaigns, and also have shot and sold fine art prints, several of which were used as prizes for the first US Petanque Open.
Finally, after extensive study and a great deal of serious thought, I have decided to apply what I have learned in business to the world of photography. I bring a marketing manager's perspective to shoots, and try to approach each project with "...if I were managing this project, what would I want to see?"
As you can see, I also try to bring an artist's eye to that which I photograph, and attempt to convey my unique perspective to the individual viewing my work.
My photography has thus far been published in Lonestar Outdoor News, Shallow Water Angler, and the award-winning Texas Sporting Journal, which was named the best outdoors magazine in 2006 by the Texas Outdoor Writers Association. There you'll find it featured in the ongoing series titled the "Cabela’s Kayak Safari."
I must thank my very good friend and paddling partner Aaron Reed, an excellent writer and accomplished photographer in his own right, for the photograph on this page. It was taken during the second leg of the "Cabelas Kayak Safari" which is taking us up the entire length of the Texas coast on sit-on-top fishing kayaks, and I think does a fine job of capturing the grizzled, adventurous Norwegian that lives within me.
And lastly a special word of thanks to another very close friend of mine, Steve Circeo. Without his help, this website wouldn't have come together in the shape it is today. Thank you, Steve.
I currently reside in La Porte/Shoreacres, Texas, which is located on Galveston bay, just outside Houston. I am available for shoots within the United States and internationally - my passport is current and am ready to travel as my schedule permits. |