A long stretch of Missouri River bottom lands separating Kansas and Missouri was covered in a fog that reminded me of the sea.
I learn things about myself through the images I make.
For most of my career, more than 30 years, I looked at life through the lens of a news photographer -- grounded in the conventions of journalistic reportage. Recently, however, I have begun to see the world from a different perspective -- a world where the seemingly ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Much of this shift from craft, photojouralism, to photography as an exploration of self, has developed through teaching. In the past, getting the decisive moment and telling the story was first and foremost. I never considered, for the most part, the fundamental elements of the image itself -- line, shape, color, texture, tone. All the aesthetic concerns seemed to just come with the storytelling. Now, I feel free to experiment with light in new ways. At the same time, keeping in mind that anything i learn about the visual process is transferable to the classroom. It is only through my own exploration of what photography means to me that I can share my knowledge with others.
An egret in autumn light teaches me that photography also requires great patience. Not everything will come to me when I want it to.
Riley teaches me all about enthusiasm.