Artist Statement

My photography is, in essence, of "a vanishing nature." Much of my subject matter, as well as the craft of 35mm photography, is threatened with obsolescence! Since childhood I have been fascinated by and deeply interested in the natural world and early in my 35-year career I grew to appreciate the fragility of our planet. These interests and understandings have undoubtedly shaped my life and informed my work. While witnessing exotic cultures, changing landscapes, and the patterns and rituals of countless wild animals in their native habitats, I have realized that the message conveyed in my still photographs must, in a single, stand-alone image, represent a special moment in time, perhaps enduring in perpetuity. Environmental degradation, the increase in human population, and the attendant shrinking of wildlife habitat threaten the very existence of certain species and may well prove to be the greatest threat to human existence. My deep conviction is that everything we inhabitants do to the planet affects our welfare and that of the flora and fauna. By sharing my photographs, perhaps others can "see" and embrace my conviction to touch the earth lightly and to deepen an awareness of the beauty that abounds here.