How I Got Here...
I guess I've always been interested in Photography. Growing up, my dad would
take these awesome pictures with his big, fancy camera, and once in a while,
he'd let me take one. My sister, on the other hand, got to use it for school, and
whenever she asked, which usually initiated some form of sibling rivalry; no wonder we
still don't get along. I got my first camera when I was nine (a 110 that belonged to my grandpa)
and immediately picked up the shutterbug syndrome from my sister. When I was 16, Dad finally taught me how
to use his big & fancy camera, though he didn't completely trust me with it (he still doesn't)
and eventually let me use it when I signed up for photography my senior year of
high school.
I don't remember learning a whole lot during that semester of high school photography, so I'm not surprised my first quarter of college photography in the spring of 1999 was more than a review; it was a brand-new learning experience.
After a year-long hiatus from college, I repeated the Beginning Photography course during Winter 2001,
since the advanced class was unavailable. The time spent away from Photography showed as I
realized I really needed to refresh my camera and darkroom skills. The following quarter, I
took Advanced Photography.
This year, due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to take any of the
photo classes offered during the day, so I took the non-credit
night course. There weren't any assignments, but I still had my worked
critiqued by a professional photographer, plus all the time I could spend in the
darkroom.
So, why Photography?
Shakespeare said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." But, I think it was
how I felt when I first walked into Amoeba Music (located at 1855 Haight Street,
about 1/2 block from Golden Gate Park). I felt like an 8-track in a sea of vinyl,
totally out of place, yet still so at home--hippies have that effect on a person.
But, being an outsider, you still see things that no one else does. You still see the bum
everyone ignores. You see the horny boss flirting with his underage co-worker. You see a lot that
not many may see. It's the same with Photography. You can stop at the Haight-
Ashbury sign a hundred times in your life and take a picture of it, and each time it will
likely be different. Maybe it was 9:00 in the morning, maybe it was 9:00 at night,
maybe you just got married, maybe your significant other just left, maybe you're drunk, stoned or whatever.
My point is, what you feel is reflected into your photos and it influences them; it makes them
personal, unique, one-of-a-kind. And that is why I take pictures.
Influences
Ansel Adams
Linda McCartney
Gene Anthony
Jim Marshall
Annie Leibovitz
Return to the Main Menu.
Copyright (c) 1996-2005, T-Bone Productions, Inc.
(except for previously copyrighted material)
This page was last updated on 10/15/05.
You're visitor #
since July 5, 2003.
