Laudo Prenso

    My journey as a photographer

    This image comes from one of my first rolls of film, around 1974. My earliest paid job was as a photographer, but I wanted my images to communicate more than just information for publication. I enjoyed breaking the traditional rules of photography like composition, focus, and even chemistry - so I pursued other careers while continuing to create photographs for myself where I am free to experiment with composition and subject matter. At the time I worked exclusively in black and white film, and in that first year I won first prize at a local art show for a conceptual self-portrait.

    I was and still am drawn to stark visuals.
    Imperfect repeating patterns also draw me in.
    On the way home from skiing once I passed by a mini ice castle formed by a leak in a high pressure water line. I only had two strobes with me and spent a few hours shivering in the cold to end up with nothing that I really liked. Oh well.
    But later that night, I did end up seeing this coming down the mountain into So. Cal.
    Empty Tokyo subway station - late 1980s.
    Up on the roof. This was my getaway from the crazyness of my Tokyo suburb.
    Breaking the rules again. Dual, competing subjects in this case.
    Stark visuals and geometry still. Building my house.
    To help support local artists my wife and I opened up a small gallery in the early 2000's.
    More recent work but still breaking the rules. Competing subjects and focus.
    Playing with fire.
    I make images that I like. For me.
    Sure, other people have done stuff just like it. But this is mine. This hangs in my house.