I started in photography as a hobby back in 1977 when I joined the U. S. military. The first three years of my military service was spent in the United States Navy. I was stationed in Yokosuka Japan. The USS White Plains (AFS-4) was my home for two and one half years. I knew I was going to do a lot of traveling, seeing other countries so I bought myself a Canon AE1. I wanted to document my travels for personnel use. I also did a lot of scuba diving in the tropics and some in Japan. When my three year tour was completed with the Navy I did a lateral transfer into the United States Army where I spent 18 years continuing taking pictures while traveling and diving. I retired from military service in 1998 after having served for 21 years. During this time, taking pictures was a hobby. After retiring from the Army, my wife and I settled in Virginia where she was born and raised. It was then my interest in photography exploded. The scenery and wildlife Virginia and West Virginia has to offer is astounding. I had to really learn the mechanics behind taking pictures to improve my skills. A few years later when family and friends seen the nature and wildlife pictures of mine, I was asked to start taking family and senior pictures which I still do today. I also will photograph anything that catches my attention; but my main focus is nature and wildlife photography. I guess I am called an all-around photographer. As of today I am self-taught. I studied other photographers work while reading books and articles. I am far from perfect but I enjoy photographing things that hopefully tells a story or brings to life something the average person has never seen or paid attention too before. We are losing a lot of nature and wildlife areas. We as a people need to realize we are not the only things living and using this planet as a home. From birds, animals, reptiles, forest, farmland and rugged landscapes; we need to share planet earth and start taking care of her before it is too late and lost forever. Hopefully my photography along with other photographers and artist helps to relay this message. My thoughts and beliefs are, we are all part of one world! But it is the human race that decides if we have a future or not!
