About Me
My Work
The process of creating these images begins with a single photograph. I then overlay up to 12 of my original images, mixing them together to create a unique pattern of light, color, and texture. Each layer is adjusted so it fits within all the other layers. There is some technical skill involved, but ultimately I rely on my visual sense to tell me 'it's done.' None of my work involves artificial intelligence (AI) or computer-generated images or colors. The patterns and colors all reside within my original photographs.
Each piece is printed on ultra-high definition paper that is laminated onto a metal backing. The paper is fairly translucent, allowing light to pass through the paper and bounce off the aluminum backing. That gives each image a glowing or luminescent quality. The finished piece has more than 4x the resolution of a traditional photographic print. Only a few photo labs have the equipment and skill to print these type of images, as they require printing methods beyond the traditional 4-color process.
Background
I graduated from Trinity University with a B.A. in film and photography. My early adult years were spent working in film production as a lighting director. I was in love with light and shadow. I had a darkroom at home, where I played with my own photographs, experimenting with variables like exposure time, different papers, etc. Looking back at that period, I realize that I was always drawn to abstract images. I loved photographing the details of worn-out buildings, discarded objects - the broken things of the world.
I shifted away from film and photography in my late 30’s. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others, so I got a Master’s in Public Health and a Master’s in Social Work, applying those skills in community health organizations, hospitals, and particularly hospice. I loved working with the dying and their families. Helping others cope with difficult life transitions was a ‘calling’ for me. Spending time working in hospice changed the way I see photography. With hospice patients, there is the medicine of helping them (technique or tools), but there is also the light, energy, and spirit of dying (their feeling states, the art of being present with them). After decades of working in healthcare, I came back to photography three years ago.
The focus of my current work is this: what feeling does this piece evoke in me and others? What are the colors and light saying? My goal is to create images that speak solely through light, color, and patterns, rather than representing familiar places or people. I see my work as painting through photography.
