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My images begin as high resolution digital photographs or, in many cases, a series of photos which are digitally "stitched" together before being transformed by careful digital manipulation. The results are soft images which reflect not so much the high-tech expertise required but rather the unique artistic vision which I have developed over time into what I feel is my clearly distinguishable style. This style is driven by my desire to project my own romantic nostalgia rather than the stark reality recorded by other scenic photographers. It is characterized by a sort of high contrast , low color count image you would expect to see in a conventional watercolor painting as well as a clear preference for ultra-wide angle perspectives and slow hand-held exposures used to capture serene landscapes and architectural studies in late afternoon natural lighting. I hope this particular collection also shows my love for the beauty of the coastal communities near my home. Enjoy!
More About The Subjects
of My Pictures: Santa Cruz and Monterey sit on opposite sides of the Monterey Bay like bookends Though less than an hour apart, they couldn't be more different.
Monterey is an upscale artsy community with the galleries and pricey restaurants of Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf. It blends nicely with Pacific Grove and Carmel which are famed for their elite beachfront homes and golf courses. I'll never tire of photographing Monterey. The historical architecture of the wharf and Cannery Row is incorporated seamlessly into the spectacular rocky coastline. Point Pinos lighthouse is only a few minutes away at the point of the bay.
Santa Cruz, on the other hand, is the stereotypical beach town with surf shops and amusement attractions. The residents are an interesting conglomeration of college kids, beach bums, hippies, new-age mystics, artists, environmentalists and computer geeks. Their wharf and lighthouse are lovely but most of my "film" gets shot at the amazing art-deco Beach Boardwalk, a visual treasure. Thirty miles north of Santa Cruz is Pigeon Point Lighthouse, a tall classic lighthouse on a rocky outcropping. It's everything a lighthouse ought to be. A little more than a hundred miles south of Monterey is Avila. This tiny village is nestled into a small inlet between Pismo Beach and Morro Bay and is accessed by a little country road through scenic hills. It boasts four separate piers, lovely beaches, a busy boatyard and a beautiful hillside neighborhood. It's worth a side trip.
The central California coast is certainly one of the most beautiful areas of the world.
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