Welcome to my Artwork Gallery. This page may take a while to fully load onto your browser, but I assure you that it is worth the wait. The images below are a few of my favorite works. Next to them is a short description of the subject matter, technique, specifications, and anything else I thought you might be wondering about. All of the photographs were taken using a Canon Elan IIE 35mm camera unless stated otherwise. Many of my earlier black and white photographs are titled in French. This is simply for the effect of a personalized "signature" on my work. Click on the images themselves to enlarge them. Enjoy!
This is one of my most favorite photographs. This is titled "Le Chat À La Dérobée", which translates to "The Cat on the Sly". This is Nigel the cat. He made an excellent model for me in my earlier work. Now he is a big star on the other side of the rainbow.This was shot using harsh side-lighting at sunset and Kodak Tri-X Pan 400 B&W 35mm film. It was also hand-printed on Kodak Professional paper. It took a lot of work dodging and burning, but when I finally got it right I was ecstatic! This photograph took second place in the pets category at the Ventura County Fair in 1997.
This is another of my favorites. This one is titled "Elvis Lives!" It was taken with a 35mm lens on my Canon Elan IIE. "How did I get so close to this magnificent giraffe" you ask? This was taken at the San Diego Wild Animal Park while on a Photo Caravan tour. Check out my Autobiography page for more information. Elvis won first place in the wildlife category in the Ventura County Fair in 1997.
This is one of my earliest photographs when I just started to get into photography seriously. This was taken at Santa Barbara Zoo in a koi pond. It was shot using Kodak ISO 100 color print Royal Gold film with a Canon Rebel way back when. I can't say exactly what draws me to this particular one, but I don't really have to. It's just so simple.
This is a cool reflection in a beautiful, shiny Mustang. I like the different distortions produced by the curves of the car molding and the window. This also placed in the Fair in 1997.
This is titled "De l'Obscurité Vient la Lumière" which translates to "From the Darkness Comes Light". This flower doesn't naturally grow out of the palm of a fern. It was placed there for contrast in value, line, and texture. This one placed in the Fair in 1996.
This was also taken with a short lens while on a Photo Caravan at San Diego Wild Animal Park. I like the distortion of the enlarged "snout" created by the short lens at close shooting range. He almost looks like "Joe Camel". It alters the perspective a bit. That beautiful, deep blue sky is as it is on the negative. It was not touched up at all.
This piece is titled "Partenaires Pour La Vie" which translates to "Partners for Life". This was taken at Santa Barbara Zoo in northern Southern California. It's a wonderful little zoo. The aspect that attracts my interest to this photograph is the way that the camera's perspective turns the two elephants into one. They share eachother's eyes and ears, and their trunks become one. I also like the feel of being the observer peeking through the tall grass (out of focus in the foreground) to see the elephants.
This is actually a b&w photo of a 16x20" color photo collage. I made this as a high school graduation present for my younger sister, Kim. The photographs are of her and I as we grew up and the things we did. It's pretty interesting.
This one is pure and simple. A lone wildflower in the blurred meadow. For some it's too "plain", but to me it's just so simple, yet so beautiful. That's why I like it. What do you feel?
This was taken with Fuji ISO 200 35mm color print film. This one is also simple in composure, but I like it. The spacing between the butterfly and the flowers below is just right. The flowers create a horizontal break up of space while the butterfly gives a vertical feeling on an angular leaf. Yes? You can also find this butterfly and many of its relatives at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
This one has an amazing amount of clarity and detail. It is so sharp because it was taken using a 4x5" camera. It was fun using the old-fashioned medium format camera. Nothing was automatic! This photo was taken at Paramount Ranch where the TV series "Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman" was filmed before its cancellation. It's too bad they got rid of that show, not that I ever really watched it. But, once they knew the show was cancelled they pulled all of the great props and sets (including several buildings) out of the park. It used to be a cool place to visit, but now it's not worth the drive.
More wildlife. I love photographing wildlife. It beats photographing people! This ornery zebra can be found at the "World Famous" San Diego Zoo. The zebras are kept by themselves because they're just so nasty. They would bite off the giraffes' tails! Well, anyway, I like this photo because of the great line and form. The horizontal and vertical stripes create tension and a feeling of movement, and the close-knit lines confuse the eye, all at the same time in this close-cropped frame. They are such beautiful creatures.
This was taken at the San Diego Zoo. The hippopotamuses are such huge animals! I like the way this one was caught peeking out of the water to see what was going on. Too bad he didn't wiggle his ears for me. Again, it's just so simple, yet catches the eye.
This is a double exposure done in the camera. There is a photo of a starfish on the sand overlapping a photo of my brother in the tide, "reaching for the stars". That was the theme of the Ventura County Fair in 1997, so this was my concept that won second place. You wouldn't believe what won first place. It was that bad! This was fun to make.
This is not just a photograph, but an actual sculpture. This is the character Wallace from Nick Park's claymation shorts titled "Wallace and Gromit"TM. I love those shows!
Now here's Gromit the dog and Quick Draw McGraw. It's the same story with these guys, too. Each figure is about 4" tall and has plastic-coated wire inside them for support. Aren't they cute? You should see them in action!
This is a mural I painted on my bedroom wall. It renders a spectacular dragon contorting in mid-flight. It's a shame I couldn't get the entire piece in the picture. The actual painting measures 6'8" tall by 3' wide. The highlight down the center of the image is just a reflection from a door mirror. I like the magical presence of creatures most call "mythical" nowadays.
This is a "jeweled" giraffe I made. First I constructed a giraffe head and neck out of clay. I used nails help support and connect the head, neck, and base. Then it was baked and painted in life-like colors. I decided to cover the sculpture in tiny beads of different colors for a mosaic effect. To do so, I used tweezers and hot glue to attach hundreds of small plastic jewel beads. It measures about 4" tall by 5" long by 2 1/2" wide.
Well, that's it for the gallery. I have so much that I'd like to show you, but there's not enough virtual space in my gallery. Come back to visit me again and I will rotate the images in the Gallery with others in my portfollio. If you'd like to find out more about me and my adventures please continue on your journey.
