My first camera was given to me earlier than I can remember, but I finally started studying photography in an extracurricular class in junior high, where I learned the fundamentals of photography and camera operation. During my sophomore year in high school my English Literature teacher generously taught me darkroom techniques 1:1 after school, and I immediately harnessed the technology to produce a weekly publication in the lone shadowbox in the cafeteria. This interview/portrait layout gave me my first taste of many dear things.

My lifelong involvement with photography has at times been eclipsed by other lifelong enthusiasms, including literature and music. I majored in music performance at Cal State Fullerton for my bachelor's degree, and shortly thereafter dropped out of music in favor of working on a couple of surprisingly [to me, anyway] successful books.

Finding that deeper involvement in writing tended to isolate me from the real world, I went back to music, where the pay and hours are terrible, but the fun makes up for it. As with writing, my very limited success in music [a busy, blue collar band on the casino circuit] had a negative effect: being stranded for weeks at a time in far-away towns. Seeking the right tool for making lemonade, my hands once again sought the friendly contours of a camera.

Using street photography as a sort of space suit - a protective shell that let me venture fearlessly into the back streets of strange new places - my love of photography grew to a new level. My job as a traveling musician soon became an excuse to photograph these places, and I spent most of my time away from the stage either making pictures or reading about the visual arts.

My musician friends noticed my picture-making reaching a certain level of attainment and quickly lined up for free portrait sessions (every musician and band needs a promotional package). Friends became friends of friends, and friends of friends became phone calls from complete strangers.

So here I am, a professional photographer with skill by design, but vocation completely by accident. I have converted to a studio the main level of my beautiful 1920's American Foursquare in Kansas City and I am open for business.