BIOGRAPHY
Photographing my footprint is my life-long passion. I picked up a camera at 13, and it’s been my constant companion, ever since. After a career as a cabinet builder, a stint in the Navy, plus a couple of “fancy suit” jobs, I returned to school in my late 50’s. At Drury University, I learned the fine art and technical aspects of photography. Armed with better skills and a Canon 7D camera, I took low-light photos of late-night people in bars, musicians playing in clubs, burlesque dancers and boxers. People with grit. Then it was off to Panama and Cuba, to photograph people and places most people don’t seek out, but offer glimpses into the extraordinary. Real life. Connecting with people and being able to gain access into cultures that I’m not native to, was a great asset in my most recent journey, a 10-month trip, trekking through 25 countries around the globe. As the expedition unfolded, I became part of an organic network of ballet dancers. It began with a connection to the prima ballerina in Panama, and led me to the Australian ballet, Cambodian, Polish, Russian ballet, and beyond. It grew, with the shared aim of documenting the beauty and tenacity of ballet dancers across cultures. Along the way, I connected with others who wove into my story and lens. Through my photographs, I do my best to show the resilience, strength, and inner emotions of the people who allow me access to their lives, to help give them a voice and share their stories.