Its interesting to go back in time and see the beginning of something that has grown into much more than you would ever imagine. I have made a career from photography and art, but I never had any interest in photography until I was in my mid-thirties. And even then, it wasnt like I thought it would be fun to take photos. I had started painting, and I needed some better photos of my paintings than my cell-phone would provide. I bought a little Sony Cybershot point & shoot, got the photos of the paintings, and suddenly found it very difficult to put the camera down! I cant tell you how many hours I spent in the back yard on my belly taking pictures of bugs and flowers. That grew into finding art in anything that I pointed my camera at. I could be at work, or just walking around downtown, I would find something and make art out of it. In fact, downtown SA became my studio, office and playground. Spending countless hours walking around downtown taking photos, I was getting an education in both photography, and in this amazing city that we live in. It took me about 3 years before I felt it necessary to include a person in any of my photos. In March of 2012, around 8am, I was walking around the Central Library, The Big Enchilada, taking abstract photos of the architecture. I found a man, who was clearly drunk, sitting in a spot that used to have a fountain. The way the sunlight was hitting him, the shadows that the building cast, and the oxidation on the wall behind him just forced me to approach the man and ask if I could take a few photos of him. He didnt move or answer, which I took as proceed. So, here it is just 2 and half years after snapping that shot, (which as I look at it now, seemed to define my style ever since) and I have a full-time career as a photographer. Ive worked with families, models, fashion designers, celebrities, and homeless people. Ive done weddings, anniversaries, corporate portraits, restaurants, lawyers, billboards, magazines and advertising. Ive even been hired by other photographers to do their photos, lol! Its amazing where life & God will lead you when you leave yourself open to being moved in foreign directions! Im including this photo, the first in a long line of portraits in what will hopefully be a long career. Im also including one of my first paintings. I know the people who have my VERY first painting, and maybe I can snap a shot of that soon. And even though I look at this one as very amateur, this is the one that defined my style, and every painting that I have ever done since has had similar elements. Everything that I have ever done in my life was a path and a lesson learned, all leading to this point. I cant wait to see what the future holds!
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 19:57:12 +0000