Bio

[Home] [Photo Gallery] [Scenic Gallery] [Travel Gallery] [Wildlife Gallery] [Vickie's Gallery] [Prices] [Contact Page] [Links]

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I became interested in photography in 1978 after borrowing a friend’s 35mm camera to take nature photographs.  Needless to say the photography bug soon bit me.  In 1985 after nearly 15 years working as a locomotive engineer in my hometown of Grafton, WV, I resigned to become a full time photographer.  A decision I have never regretted. 

My primary photography job for 21 years was as a staff photographer for the West Virginia Division of Tourism.  My work with West Virginia Tourism has allowed me the unique position of traveling and photographing the beauty and recreational aspects of West Virginia for advertising and promotional purposes.  This photography is used continuously as a source for magazine and newspaper articles, brochures, posters, calendars, billboards, advertising, maps etc., which promote the state of West Virginia.  In 2007 due to a WV state government reorganization I became part of a new division within the WV Dept of Commerce the Communications and Marketing Division.

I also have a separate freelance photography career. This freelance career has allowed me to expand my photographic subjects beyond the borders of West Virginia, nature and outdoor photography. It has helped to keep my creativity fresh and innovative. Although because of my reputation as a "West Virginia Specialist" many of my freelance assignments are in West Virginia. I have a personal stock slide library of over 30,000 slides on a wide variety of subjects. In 2000 I entered the world of digital photography and am now rapidly building digital image files.  My freelance clients include magazines, corporate clients, ad agencies, calendar publishers, textbook companies, resorts etc. The variety of my photographic assignments includes such assignments as photographing the Kentucky Derby for Louisville Magazine since 1992 for their annual "Derby Issue." 

Since 1978 I have accumulated an impressive list of publication credits, through both my WV Tourism position and my freelance career.  These credits include numerous magazine covers (300+), calendars and book covers in addition to countless photographs published in newspapers, magazines, brochures, billboards and books used for editorial and advertising purposes.  In recent years the exposure from my website has created an interest for framed and unframed enlarged prints of my photography, for office and home wall art, plus an increased use of my photography for stock usage.

In the past I have published a few photo books and as of 2004 have begun doing so again.  In 2004 "COVERED BRIDGES IN WEST VIRGINIA" and "THE STATE PARKS OF WEST VIRGINIA" were released.  Both are 6"x 9" soft cover photo books that have been very well received.

A collaboration with Jeanne Mozier, author of "Way Out in West Virginia" has resulted in an 11"x14" hardcover coffee table book.  "WONDERS OF WEST VIRGINIA" was released in November 2005 featuring  161 full color photographs with colorful text and captions in the "Jeanne style" that have made her books a regional success.

Also in 2005 WV photographer Bryan Lemasters and I share photography credits on another West Virginia photography book "West Virginia Impressions".   This is a 9"x8" soft cover book with 87 images of various scenes in West Virginia.

In 2007 I ventured into the publishing tool of POD (publish on demand) books.  These are books which you can design, layout and upload to an online company which will then "print on demand" as many as you want...from 1 to ????.  The quality is excellent albeit at a price.  This opens a entire new area for my photography books which may not have a profitable benefit for a traditional publisher, but I feel may have a small market demand.  To date I have two POD books - "Lab Work - working like a dog" and "West Virginia Mail Pouch - a photographers view".  These books can only be purchased online from Blurb.com and are pretty pricey.

The West Virginia Mail Pouch book has caught the interest of a publisher and will be printed traditionally in large volume and will be released in the summer of 2008, so the price will be reduced substantially.

Photography is my passion…my life.  Even after all these years as a full time professional photographer the joy and excitement is still there.  My transition to the new and exciting world of digital photography with it’s photo editing and digital printing capabilities has only served to renew the flame of creativity that began in 1978.