About Me

Taken by my wife, Peg

I started out as a lighting designer. Well, before I even knew I was a lighting designer, I was studying technical theater at Montclair State College in New Jersey. There I took a photography class.

My dad was an amateur photographer. I remember he brought back a TLR from Germany after WWII and the fridge was always filled with rolls of 120 film. He also shot rolls and rolls of 8mm color movie film, which someday I intend to convert to digital files. I remember an old story of him and my mom setting up a temporary darkroom in the bathroom of my grandfather’s house, where they lived right after they got married.

When I was at Montclair, I took a photography course where I learned darkroom technique. I gentleman named Klaus Schnitzer taught the course (he still dues, I visited the campus this past summer – 2011). Klaus believed in three things: “Nikon cameras, BMW cars, and Ilford FP4.” Well a fourth thing, he also believed in using Edwal FG7.Because of his influence, until I began my rebirth as a film photographer in 2008, I had never shot Tri-X, never used D-76, and never done many things that most people experience when they take their introductory b&w film photography course.

I don’t think Klaus was very happy with my growth as a photographer while I was in his class. I know from his last critique when I handed in my portfolio in Photography II that he believed I had skated through, and I know he was correct. While I enjoyed photography, I always thought it was going to be of secondary interest in my life (remember, I was going to be a theatrical lighting designer). I’ll never forget Klaus’ worst biting commentary for students he felt weren’t truly engaging the medium with enough passion: “This image is nothing but a schnapshot!” As frustrated as he might have been with me, he never did say that about my efforts.

I’d be curious if today he came to this blog, what he’d think.

Starting in that class, I only shot FP4 developed in FG7 for years. Occasionally I’d use Microphen and HP5, but very rarely, and I didn’t feel confident with in. I built a darkroom in my parents’ basement with my friend John Sharkey.

Today, with every roll, every frame, I find myself both remembering what I knew and learning something I never knew. It’s an adventure. Please take a look at my images, leave comments, and let me know what your think. I’ll learn a lot from your thoughts.

Thanks for visiting.