Ansel Adams is my biggest inspiration in photography. I was amazed when I first discovered his work. I'd pore over his images again and again in complete awe and feel totally inspired to see and create as he did.

Ansel Adams was a pioneer in the darkroom and in the genres of landscape and nature photography. He once said, "you don't take a photograph, you make it."

Time and time again I find myself thinking of this phrase and its meaning. I think what he meant by this is that, as photographers and artists, we don't simply approach a scene or subject and click the shutter. Each artist's personal style, the way he or she views the world, and intentions all influence our final images. 

Knowing Ansel Adams was a master in the darkroom, I like to think this phrase also implies photo manipulation. He'd sometimes spend an entire day post-processing just to create one image and famously said, "dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships." 

Needless to say, his artistic ethics now reside with me. Although I shoot digital and edit on a computer and Adams shot film and edited in a darkroom, I like to think our process is the same: an idea comes to mind, a moment in time (specifically thought of and envisioned) is captured through the lens of the camera, and painterly tweaks are made through post-processing in Lightroom and Photoshop.

We all perceive the world differently: my reds could be your oranges; my highlights are your midtones. But my portfolio reflects my visions of the world and my own moody, contrasty, and colorful style. I hope you enjoy viewing my photographs as much as I enjoy making them.

Thanks for stopping by.