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"There are no rules for good photographs; there are just good photographs." ~ Ansel Adams
My Photographs with Their Stories
I've been serious about photography since 1985, when I studied under three exacting Army Combat Photographers who taught me in Black and White. You'll see that I still prefer it.
I call myself a "Hybrid Photohobbyist" because I work in both film and digital, and to differentiate myself from the multitude of people who call themselves "Photographers." I won't use the word "amateur" because it implies a lack of expertise or skill.
I use a Nikon D850 for Digital. For Film, I use a Mamiya 6 for 120mm and a Canon A-1 for 35mm. I send my film to The Darkroom for developing, scan my negatives with an Epson V550 Photo, and adjust them with Photoshop Elements.
I'm a purist, believing too many adjustments or additions to an image make it graphic art, Not Photography. I prefer cold monochrome images and natural color shots. If I have a "style," I would call it Journalistic— I enjoy recording the moment, the truest form of history. My favorite subjects are My People.
Below are links to a few of my favorite photos and their stories, which I believe are "good photographs."
People
"The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do." ~ Andy Warhol
Kady
This is my better half, The Boss. She is amazing at everything she does. A wonderful wife and mom, a great cook, and a fantastic interior decorator, everyone who knows her adores her.
Also, this is the REAL photographer in the family. Her stuff is amazing.
When this hero traveled to Turkiye to visit me for New Year's, I took plenty of photos of her— the best work I have ever done.
I took this with my Canon AE-1 Program, Kodak Plus-X Pan 125, 100mm, and developed the roll with Kodak Microdol-X. That's Right, old school film and darkroom work!
LR
This is my firstborn, by Beck. She has returned to my life through her efforts and those of my other two. I'm so grateful.
A poignant story of divorce, loss, distance, and the passage of time is finally reconciled. I love how she has taken on the roles of big sister, godmother, auntie, and friend in our family.
She brought with her a great man and two more marvelous grandchildren.
Jay
I'm amazed at how few photos I have of my son as an adult; I took hundreds of photos of Jay as a child. I need to fix this problem. This one is from my granddaughter's birthday party a few years ago.
An Iraq Veteran, he returned home, educated himself with the GI Bill, and earned his MS in Information Technology. He is the best man I know.
I dig the hat and his Carnegie Mellon bowtie.
KS
My daughter-in-law has always supported my photography; she is always willing to sit for me. I've had some success, but capturing how I see her has always escaped me until this shot, taken during one of our coffee dates.
She was my daughter's college best friend and part of the family, long before my son showed interest.
She proved that angels live among us, entering Jay's life at the perfect time. She saved him.
Nikon D850, 50mm, f2.5, 1/25, ISO-100, RAW
CE
My daughter is, and always has been, a classic beauty; she looks like her mom. Sadly, she never lets me take her photo. I don't get it.
She's an Afghanistan Veteran, still in the Army, and recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. She's a Paratrooper and wears the AA Patch on her left shoulder.
Each time she allows me, the photos turn out great.
AJ
Finally, a fine man comes along. I couldn't have picked a finer husband for my daughter. Though a "Damnyankee," I liked him from the first.
He is the perfect calm opposite of my fireball daughter. They are a great team, and he treats her like the Princess Royal she was raised to be.
Cooper liked him instantly; nuff said.
Bee
I've taken photos of this youngster since she was Sweet 16. She was my favorite of all my kids' high school friends. She married my son and gave me my Grandson, JK. Though the marriage didn't work, she will always be one of my children and a member of my family.
Bee is remarried now and living out West, but we remain close.
JK
My grandson is one of the most photographed young men in America. We all took thousands of him when he was little. The Cadets and the school's public affairs office joined in. He's smart, articulate, and quick-witted, with a tendency for good-natured Neel sarcasm. His intelligence is not to be ignored.
It's hard to believe that he just graduated from High School. I'm excited to see what his next big step will be.
ES
I spend a lot of time with my granddaughter. She's super intelligent, has a near photographic memory, and is into science like I am.
I enjoy taking photographs of her, and she enjoys posing. She knows what she wants and must approve every shot.
SGM
This baby and I were great collaborators. She was ready anytime Granddaddy wanted to take photos, as long as she got to review each shot and then push all the buttons on the camera.
When she had had enough of my camera and me, she gave me an emphatic "All Done!" This also means, "Let me have a go with that camera."
At Four, she most often refuses her permission.
CFN
I've taken photos of this beautiful woman three times: once for her Father's birthday and twice in Charleston, when I was there for one reason or another. Both sessions produced some of my favorite portraits of one of my favorite people, but that was years ago. I plan on working with her again - soon.
She is a faithful friend and stays in touch, checking on me more than anyone else.
SS
The day after Christmas, 2017, I took a few shots of SS to test my new 50mm lens. I was happy that he agreed. The man has such an interesting face.
I took it in Available Light, which worked nicely. I should have shot from a little farther back. The tree lights are a little distracting, though I like them.
We met him on the Internet way back in 1999 or 2000. He has become a member of the family. We enjoy time on his farm in Tennessee.
HJ & BH
My Niece and nephew are such an amazing team that I can't write about one without mentioning the other. They have built a great life out in Arizona, in a beautiful home, constantly full of children and grandchildren.
HJ is a professional family and addiction therapist and serves as the family fitness guru. I have never asked her about anything physiology-related that she didn't know about. I could listen to her all day. BH is an ex-Army Special Forces NCO. He works as a drilling engineer now. He is also an amazing cook and a born comedian.
These are two of the finest people I know, always willing to help someone in need. I enjoy visiting.
TS
While our niece lived with her grandparents, I asked her to sit for me. What photographer worth his salt wouldn't? I overexposed and was unable to make a decent print in my darkroom. I kept the film.
Technology Improved. I found the negatives, scanned them individually, and worked on them in Photoshop. Finally. Amazing!
Never give up on those old negatives!
SA
There are few people I love as much as this lady; I consider her one of my closest friends. She has the most beautiful legs and cutest feet on the planet.
She sat for me when she visited us in Church Crookham, England, in 1988 or 89. I shot about three rolls of Tri-X and destroyed them by turning on the wrong tap and rinsing in hot water.
I managed to salvage these photos using all of my Photoshop skills.
BR
This guy and I have a very long history. Though we went to rival high schools, we toured with the 66th Street Baptist Church Youth Choir together the summers after our sophomore and junior years. He dated a girl that I wanted to date in our senior year.
We met again at the formation of Machaira Church (later Doctrinal Studies, now Grace Valley Church). He and his lovely wife, Millie, helped me through my divorce and introduced me to Kady. Boyce is a fine photographer and musician,
When Millie died, he moved from Alabama to Arizona to be near his children and grandchildren. I took this photo when we were there visiting family.
I wish I had taken photos of Millie. She was an exceptional beauty, loved by all..
Ryan
I've had the good fortune of photographing this young lady a few times. She's a natural in front of the camera, as sweet as she is beautiful, and one of my favorite photo subjects.
Sarah
My daughter's college roommate, and a frequent flyer at our house, came to work at VMI for a short while. She did a fine job. Everyone loved her.
We snuck out of the office during exams for a photo session on the Blue Ridge. She was, by far, the easiest person I have ever photographed. I never had to give her any direction. She moved seamlessly from pose to pose and hesitated for me to press the shutter.
She's married and a mom now, living in California. We don't stay in touch.
Scout the Dog
Somewhere in all this fur is my new love, my daughter's pup, Scout.
He's a treasure— well-behaved, trained, and happy. I didn't think I could love another dog after Cooper, but this guy won me over.
When I'm there, he's My Dog.
The Lesson of The Girl in the Park
I met this girl and her family at Kultur Park while photographing the city of Izmir with friends back in 1985 during my first tour. She had striking emerald-green eyes and beautiful chestnut hair. My AE-1 Program was loaded with black and white.
Those eyes were worth sacrificing the rest of the B&W roll to load color, but I didn't have the time. I already had my 70-200mm zoom mounted, so I stepped back and took about seven shots of just her.
Not long after, I bought a second Canon Body (A-1). I kept one loaded with color and the other monochrome. Digital is so much simpler.
Ah, but B&W Film is so beautiful.
The Girls of Summer, Izmir, 2001
In the Summer of 2001, after my deployment to Kosovo, I met and photographed three of the prettiest and sweetest young women I have ever met. They became my closest friends. I'm still in touch with two of them on Instagram. I'm sad that I'll never see them again.
Sevda owned Divas Ajans in Izmir. After I demonstrated what I could do, she had me photograph her business and her models. Tough Job! When she needed my help, I left work. It was always fun. I would love to photograph her again.
Berna is Sevda's friend and helped run Divas Ajans. Since her second language is French, we had to communicate using my mostly forgotten bad French, gestures, and through Sevda's translations. I owe her a tour of the Christian churches in Izmir.
I met G'ser at Sarduna the night she was celebrating the completion of her teaching degree. She adopted me as a cultural orphan, including me in family and friend activities, refusing to let me sit in my apartment. I've lost contact with her.
Gone But Not Forgotten
When I bring my cameras to family gatherings, I always get a lot of guff. None of them realized that I was creating a historical record for future generations— I was giving them a small bit of immortality. The photos below illustrate that fact.
Dad
Cookie
Mom
Sil
Wild Bill
Swift-footed Cooper
Shoutouts
Mom's Photo of Dad with his Olympus 35-S Rangefinder, using her Kodak Brownie, about 1961. Mom and Dad gave me my first camera. They were both fine photographers.
Gil Moreau, Jim Luellen, and Bob Ducette
Thanks to these lads, Army Photographers, and my first photo mentors. Bob helped me pick out my first SLR, a Canon AE-1 Program, a flash, and a couple of lenses. Jim helped me find a good camera bag. Gill gave me expired film, taught me how to develop it, make prints, and operate the NATO Darkroom. They walked me around Izmir, teaching me to use the camera, giving me a ton of advice.
"Color takes care of you; you have to work really hard to get a good black and white photograph." ~ Gil Moreau
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