DISCLAIMER: THE Q & A SECTION IS STRICTLY FOR FUN, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE PHOTOGRAPHY RELATED QUESTIONS.
Q. If you had to pick one photo to look at for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A. Since I am no longer allowed to eat "not good for you" foods, it would have to be Jeff Padrick of Klug Studio "Burger & Steak" image!
A BIG THANK YOU TO JEFF FOR THE USE OF HIS IMAGE.
~Klug Studio Link~
Q. What got you into commercial photography?
A. I initially had a passion for fine art photography but after realizing that it was not going to pay the bills I transitioned into commercial photography and found a similar passion for it.
Q. Where is your primary geographic location or area of work?
A. South Florida is my base.
Q. Who is/are other photographers you admire?
A. Diane Arbus, Walker Evans, Keith Carter, Gordon Parks & Joel-Peter Witkin just to name a few.
Q. To what locations has your career taken you?
A. I have had the great pleasure to travel all over the United States. I have found a deep rooted appreciation for this amazing country of ours through its people and the culture they bring to it.
Q. Are there other artists in your family?
A. My father (William) was a craftsman in every sense of the word. He enjoyed everything from painting to carving wood. My mother (Beverly) was always comfortable performing on stage. She enjoys the preforming arts and is currently involved with several theater performance companies in Texas. From time to time she can still be found on stage doing just one of the things she loves.
Q. What do you find is the hardest technical thing about photography?
A. The technical side is second nature to me at this stage in my career. I have been making images for over 15 years so I just understand how to technically as well as artistically attain the image I desire.
As for photography as a whole, that newbies who venture into this field think it's easy. There IS an art to photography and many people don't realize that. Following that is the technical understanding that must happen. It is NOT as easy as picking up a camera and pressing a button. This mindset has caused the market to become so saturated with "photographers", that it diminishes the work of true photographers, who have paid their dues and have seriously worked hard to become successful. Knowing that the market is the way it is, people who have been in any field of photography, for several years, have to maintain a higher level of excellence to stay relevant in today's photography arena.
Q. What do you find is the easiest thing about photography?
A. Getting up each morning and knowing that I get to go to work and do something I love!
Q. What do you think makes a good photographer?
A. First and foremost...attention to detail followed by the drive to capture that perfect image.
Q. Which one item of equipment would you say is the most important to you?
A. It would be dumb if I didn't say my camera...wouldn't it?
Q. Do you ever find yourself in a "photo funk", and, if so, how do you get out of it?
A. I do. I try to completely get away from photography. I will do something else creative that I love. Anything from working on my hot rods to surfing to traveling. Usually when I am out of the photography element, that I am in everyday, it helps to clear my mind and be inspired by other things that I love. I can have my head under the hood of an old beat up car that I'm working on and see a nut or bolt and that will spawn a creative shot thought in my head.
Q. What turns you on?
A. Fast cars and a nice, clean ground swell while surfing.
Q. What turns you off?
A. Quitters! With hard work and perseverance anyone can always succeed in some way. Stopping something I am doing because it can't go any further is not the same as quitting. Even if I fail at whatever I am attempting I have a measure of success. Knowing I attempted, saw it through to the end or as far to the end as it could possibly go at least I know I tried.
Q. What sound or noise do you love?
A. A Dodge 360 cubic inch engine running while classical music is playing on the radio. The ocean is another favorite.
Q. What sound or noise do you hate?
A. I don't really hate any sound. I think a person can change things they like and dislike in life, sounds included. Change happens as we grow and experience life, so having a sound that we didn't like in our youth can be something that we grow to love as we experience it in a new fashion or medium.
Q. What is your most favorite word?
A. Subjective! Because it's subjective.
Q. What is your least favorite word?
A. No. Everybody wants to hear a yes. I find it very hard to tell people no but sometimes it just needs to happen.
Q. What is your favorite curse word?
A. I'm a big fan of c*ap & j*ckass.
Q. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
A. I would love to be a welder. I come from a very blue-collar part of Texas and its something that has been instilled in me since I was young. Being a welder would be the "blue-collar" thing to do. Being a nurse is something that I have always admired but never thought I was smart enough to achieve.
Q. What profession would you not like to do??
A. Being a lawyer, it has absolutely no appeal to me.
Q. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
A. "Sorry for the short notice but I couldn't wait for you to get here...I have important work for you to do, with me!"