I was born and raised in Manchester New Hampshire and after a four year stint in the Marine Corps, found myself in Athens Georgia attending the University of Georgia learning to bark like a DAWG and experiencing the nuances of eating BBQ, tailgating, and surviving in the oppressive summer humidity. After finally taking all of the courses that were offered, I obtained gainful employment in Atlanta where I found the love of my life. She was also a "Yankee Transplant" and we decided to move a little closer to our roots and wound up in Clayton, North Carolina (well not THAT close).
I dabbled with photography in high school and ruined a few carpets with spilled fixer and stop bath solutions. But the demands of life seemed to intrued and diverted my attention to more "practical" pursuits. However, I always looked at photos in magazines and other places and would think about how the artist saw the scene and what technique was used to create an image of what he/she was feeling. I would offer suggestions to folks taking snapshots or family pictures as to how they might "get a better shot." My facination with the photographic process always remained under the surface.
When my daughter was born, I decided (as a lot of new parents do) that I needed to chronicle her life for posterity. I then entered the digital age and purchased my first digital camera. Shortly after that, my passion for photography that had been simmering under the surface, found a release and exploded to the surface!
I have since been trying to learn every nuance of pixels, post-processing, and presentation. I enjoy trying new techniques that allow me to see a subject in different perspectives. I have been able to combine my lifelong love of sports with my love of photography by capturing many of my daughter's as well as other children's sporting activities. These sports images led me to become intrigued by the ability to capture people in images that represent who they are and create a lasting treasure.
Awards/Exhibits
2010 Margaret Richie Memorial Award of Excellence, Clayton Art Faire competition, Clayton Visual Arts
2010 Raleigh News & Observer Travel Photography Contest, Third Place
2011 Three artist exhibition, Clayton Center, Clayton NC (August)
2011 Cary Gallery of Artists Small Treasures (Juried) Show
2011 Wilmington Art Association (Juried) Art Show
2012 Clayton Visual Arts group exhibit Clayton Center, Clayton, NC (January)
2012 Johnston County Arts Council Art & Food Festival (Juried) art show, awarded "Second Place"
2012 Individual exhibit, Clayton Steakhouse, Clayton, NC (May)
2012 Individual Exhibit Skylines, Clayton, NC (July)
2012 JC Raulston Arboreteum (Juried print show) Awarded "Best in Show"
2012 Frank Creech Gallery, Johnston Community College (Sept.)
2012 Individual Exhibit, Smithfield, NC Public Library (Sept.)
2012 Part of group exhibit at Bistro on Third, Smithfiled , NC (October)
2012 Part of group exhibit with Cary Photographic Artists, Hale Cultural Arts Center, Apex, NC (November)
2012 Howell Woodstock Photography contest. (First place Floral, Third place Landscape) November
2013 Johnston County Arts Council Art & Food festival (Juried) art show, awarded "Honorable Mention"
2013 Two artist exhibit Clayton Center, Clayton, NC (August)
2013 Sampson Arts Council Annual art show (Juried) awarded "First Place" (September)
2013 JC Raulston (Juried Print Show)
2013 Historic Wagner House, Clayton, NC
2013 Double Barrel Brewery, Wilsons Mill, NC
2013 Brew Up Some Art Show for Pretty in Pink Foundation. Deep River Brewing, Clayton, NC
2013 Clayton Visual Arts Christmas Tour of Homes
2014 Johnston County Arts Council Art & Food Festival (Juried) "Honorable Mention"
2014 Fine Arts League of Cary Annual Exhibit (Juried)
2014 Southeastern Health Care Center Grand Opening art exhibit
2014 Clayton Center, Part of group exhibit with CVA members
2015 Piece purchased and included in permanent exhibit at new Johnston Memorial Hospital in Clayton, NC
2015 Fine Arts League of Cary Annual Exhibit (Juried) "Honor Award"
2015 Sampson Arts Council Annual Juried Show (April)
2016 Fine Arts League of Cary Annual Exhibit (Juried) April
Memberships
Carolina Nature Photographers Association
Clayton Visual Arts, (Treasurer)
Cary Photographic Artists
Town of Clayton, N.C. Public Arts Advisory Board