When I was 13 years old I sat in my parent’s garage trying
to figure out how to make nunchucks. Go ahead and laugh (I had serious Napoleon
Dynamite nunchuck making skills in case you’re wondering). But that was a huge
learning experience. Suddenly the answer was just there and I realized my mind
could solve problems given the right amount of time and application of effort.
The same thing still applies to my work as an artist and
photographer. I see an image and know what it will look like in a “finished”
form and the challenge is to make the picture on the canvas look like what is
in my head. Some photogs say if you can’t do it in the field then it doesn’t
count (the anti-photoshop establishment). First of all I’m not rich enough for
the equipment and chemicals that make that happen. But more importantly I
believe in using all the tools at my disposal. A great classical photographer,
Al Abrams, once told me, “It’s a poor artist who blames his equipment.” That
has always stuck with me.
Work with what you have and create beauty.
