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Thanks to my parents, I have been fortunate enough to see a lot
of beautiful places, but few compare to Santa Barbara. If you like
the architecture with the red tile roofs and the houses in the hills,
or the California beach city atmosphere you'll find something to enjoy
in this gallery.
Food photography is a favorite
subject of mine. Working with any other artist is a
particular challenge for a photographer and good chefs are certainly among
my favorite artists. Being able to translate their creation into an image
that will make peoples' mouths water while still remaining true to their
vision is a very rewarding challenge.
One of the reasons people enjoy a nice restaurant, or any getaway, is the atmosphere.
Paring great food with a relaxing environment is the start of something
special. The challenge, of course, is to let people know about your unique
culinary experience. After seeing the ad created from the image
at the left, a patron told the owner of the restaurant "It looked
so beautiful, I just had to come in and try it!"
One of my favorite things about architectural photography is the details.
I can spend hours taking photos of a beautiful building only to come
back a few days later and see something from a different angle that
is completely unique. The experience is particularly pronounced
with the old spanish architecture in California. The details of
the stone work of some of the older buildings can only be described
as fine sculpture. I especially appreciate the stone work of the
Santa Barbara county courthouse after taking with the grand-daughter
of one of the craftsmen who contributed to the stone work. One of my photos elicited
the story of her grandfather's creativity and how the Courthouse and now
my photos always reminded her of him. Now they remind me too.
The natural beauty all around us can be breathtaking if you stop to look.
Not only the beauty of the flower, but the amazing mathematical precision
of the seemingly random way it is put together. This beauty I can not take credit for
creating, I can only do my best to capture the amazing artistry that is so easily
taken for granted by us in our busy lives!
The changing landscape through the seasons never ceases to amaze me. The same
spot that is nice in the summer, may be completely breathtaking in the
winter. Some days when the clouds are just right you can capture wonderful
images in spots you may have dismissed on other days. Unlike the smaller scale
of some of my other undertakings, you are the most at the mercy of the elements
when you are looking for a truly great landscape shot. I can light a flower, or
even a fairly large building. But when it comes to landscapes I am powerless to control
the lighting. However what I lack in control, I try to make up for in attentiveness.
There are certain days when a particular kind of cloud is in the sky, that I will keep
my camera close all day just waiting for the magic moments.
People photography is a completely different kind of project.
There are many technical aspects, just like any other
photo shoot. But gettting a good image of a person
is just as much about getting to know that person
and finding a way to make them feel comfortable in
front of the camera. The misconception is that
people don't like to have their pictures taken.
In reality, they just don't like those frightening
snapshots that keep popping up for years to come at every
family event. A well executed photo in a comfortable environment
is something altogether different.
Capturing the details of a product, especially a small and shiny one,
is always a creative experience. Show all the intricacies
in the most informative way possible, still allowing for
creativity... all while not creating a self portrait of the photographer in the
reflections.
