As a news photographer for the past two decades in California, I have had the opportunity to document a wide variety of subjects on film.

While working in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties I had the opportunity to meet and photograph some of Hollywood’s finest actors, musicians and comedians in their homes and at public engagements.

I have always preferred black & white photography. However my work is largely color these days due to the incredible demand for color images. I do see a respectable recognition for the art of Black & White images returning however.

It is often said that I have “ink in my blood” when people comment on my years working for newspapers. To a degree that is very true as my father worked for years as a Foreign Correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph. In fact this is how our family emigrated to the United States back in 1965.

I had been exposed to journalism from a very early age and can honestly remember the smell of newsprint and was even more excited when my Dad brought home glossy B/W 8 x 10’s shot by his staff photographers of famous British soccer games.

As always, I like to get in close to my subjects and create an intimacy for the reader. I try to help tell a story though my images and hopefully capture part of the personality and portray that to the reader in a sensitive and thought provoking manner.

Dedication: Covering the news then becoming the news! On occasion, I get a little too close to my subject as I did in August 1991 when a trail derailment shut down California’s highway US 101 for 5 days between Ventura and Santa Barbara. I, ever the dedicated pro and perhaps a little too eager to get “up close and personal”, managed to breathe in a large amount of Aqueous Hydrazine (an odorless rocket fuel slated for Vandenberg AFB) which was spilling from one of the derailed cars. I used a 20mm lens and was a wee bit too close to this leaking container!

Firefighters quickly assessed me after I complained of a headache. They called in the contamination experts. The HazMat, team did a great job. It was very surreal. My rush to get a good close up made a great sub story for the huge number of cameras photographing every inch of my body as I was being decontaminated. I was rushed to Ventura County Medical center where I called my editor ( no, I had no cell phone then)...All he said was, “Wow! Did you get any pictures?” Of course I had, but my car and cameras etc. were also contaminated and had to go through various checks. Luckily some memorable images survived. My clothes didn’t! They were sent to a toxic waste site in Casmalia.
I was airlifted back to my car late that night courtesy of Ventura County Fire. All I had was my hospital paper gown. Then when we landed I was again the subject of the 11 pm news casts.

Upon arrival at work the next morning I was greeted with thunderous applause from the news room and about every newspaper from around the world was on my desk with these images of me being decontaminated. I was known from that day forward asa named coined by one illustrious editor.

Whether I’m photographing a riot or a ribbon cutting, train derailment or just a simple mug shot I try and put my heart and soul into the story and try not to be cliché.

Residing in Los Angeles County with my wife, I shoot a wide variety of subjects for newspapers, magazines, local businesses, chambers of Commerce and many other clients local , national and international.