P h o t o g r a p h e r s   I n t e r v i e w s

When I view your photos, I get the feeling of serenity through simplicity... you seem to cut through the non-essentials and get a direct approach...is this a deliberate action towards your subjects ?

Yes, I think it is. That is why I'm attracted to the desert. I find that it's much easier to isolate subjects in the deserts. There isn't anything to get in the way of communicating what the subject is supposed to be. You can focus directly on the subject, with out any other visual distractions.

Well, Jeff, you have certainly obtained the desired results! Now, on to the second question.. There is a feeling of "entrance to another time portal" expressed in your photos...the feeling of "awaiting" .... Do you have a "vision" of sorts when you capture the subject in your lens? You obviously know what you want...is it a "gut" feeling?

I think it's a gut feeling, but it usually comes very quickly. I certainly am interested in creating an alternate mood, one which is different than the obvious one in front of me, but also one which I believe actually exists in some way. I think if it exists in your mind, it exists in some sort of reality. So I like to bring the image to life by attempting to infuse that reality into it, allowing others to experience it.

My "vision" really stems from my childhood, taking desert trips to visit my grandparents in Arizona. I was always amazed that you could leave the city and enter that strange desert world where there was "nothing" and yet so much to see at the same time. I remember that it seemed to transport me to a new and magical kind of place, and thinking that were so many things in the desert that were overlooked by so many people. So now I like to try to bring out some of the stuff I saw and was amazed with as a kid, mixed with present day perspectives, whatever those may be...

When did the camera first catch your interest ?

I did some photography back in Jr. High school, and really liked it. But I stopped doing it after that and just picked it up again about a year and a half ago. But at the time I didn't really think I would take the fine art route. I just wanted a camera to start documenting some of the hikes I was doing in the desert. Once I started shooting and processing in Photoshop, I realized the creative potential that there was in front of me, and I began to do weekly photo trips to the desert.

Between Jr. High school photography and my present desert photography, I did do quite a bit of darkroom work at Palomar Observatory. I was working for a project at JPL which utilized the 18" telescope at Palomar. We were systematically searching for new comets and asteroids, and we took photos of the sky to do that. The type of film processing that we were doing was very specific, and certainly didn't leave any room for artistic experimentation. During that time, I really learned to hate dark rooms, and I think this also had a lot to do with my waiting until the digital age to take up photography once again.

Well, I am certinly happy that you found a way by using the digital camera with your own talent.! What advice would you give the novice in photography?

Try to simplify. Don't get hung up in all of the features of your camera. Take shots using very standard settings, and try to get the most out of those settings. Think of your camera as a data gathering device only, not a special effects machine. Concentrate on the basics: lighting, shadow, composition. Very important: Look for potential shots all of the time, even when you don't have your camera with you. That way, you can practice all of the time. Over time, you'll learn to home in on the important stuff, and forget about the redundant stuff. If possible, try to shoot in a location which allows you to isolate your subjects from background clutter. You'll find it easier to learn about the basics of good composition that way.

Good advice !
Last question Jeff, Would you encourage your children, if any, to start their own collection of interesting camera shots? And at what age would you give a child their first camera for their own pictorial journey through life?

I would encourage giving a child a camera as soon as they are able to use it without dropping it too often. If they show any interest, that's great, and if not, they may remember how they took pictures as a child and decide to take it up later in life. I think it's important to teach kids to see early in life, before they see too many famous shots which might force them to see from a specific point of view too early. I think it can be difficult to break out of molds the older we get.