I was born in Chicago, raised in Park Ridge, lived in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and currently reside in Traverse City, MI. The places I have traveled or lived, have greatly inspired who I am, and what I love.
My passion for film making and cinema brought me to the west coast after completing my B.A. in Film and Video from Columbia College Chicago. After coming to the realization that Hollywood was not for me, my wife Liz and I found our way to Northern Michigan to live near her family, and slow things down a bit. Life in the north is inspiring and beautiful, but occasionally I get the urge to spend some time in the city and re-connect with my roots.
The city of Chicago and its rich history are what inspired me to pick up a camera, and start shooting. Every city block has something unique. Every city mile changes neighborhoods. And every city neighborhood harbors cultures of the world which many of us will only experience when passing through town. The endless miles of change through the city is what made me want to capture it, and learn about it too.
My life experiences around the country have molded who I am today, and how I see the world. I appreciate the beauty in all that I encounter, but some subjects photograph better than others. Everything from mountain vistas, to lush green forests, and decaying leaves on the side of a road, to the ’54 Chevy rusted to the ground, or the vandalized street sign lit beautifully by the setting sun. In the right light and frame of mind, there is beauty in everything, even if it’s not obvious.
I still see things cinematically, but now I only shoot one frame at a time. To tell your story with just a single image has proven to be the challenge of my life, but every photo I make, I get closer to completing that story. I hope you enjoy my storytelling and share it with others too.