Exploring 40 Years of Photography, Art, and Knowledge

photoscapes.com has gone through many changes over the years, evolving alongside the winding-down chapter of my career as a busy photographer and commercial artist. The site began in 2005 when I started offering non-commercial images to the public. Before that, I was fully immersed in commercial photography—booked solid up to two years in advance, which was my self-imposed limit (and probably my sanity saver). There was little room for anything beyond client work. It wasn’t always easy, but it was the path I chose, and I loved it. I made a lot of people happy, stayed incredibly busy, and—truth be told—rarely had time to spend the money I was making. Not a bad problem to have.

In January 2023, as part of my planned retirement, I removed the shopping cart and image catalog from this website since I no longer offer prints for sale. Instead, I’m transforming this space into a hub for sharing what I’ve learned. It will always be free—just information, inspiration, and hopefully, a few helpful gems.

You won’t find a comment section here. Not because I’m anti-social but because I don’t have the time (or patience) to clean up after the occasional digital mischief-maker. However, you’re always welcome to send me a secure message—I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Just bear in mind that I’m often out shooting, traveling, testing gear, developing film, and enjoying a personal life that includes someone special and a few other artistic pursuits. In other words, please allow a little breathing room between your message and my reply!

With 40 years of experience as a commercial artist, photographer, and educator in commercial photography, I’ve got a lot of knowledge stored up and ready to share. I’ve written a good number of articles—ranging from photography techniques to the real-world lessons of running a studio business—which are currently being polished for publication (slowly but surely).

These days, I also design and maintain several websites, take on graphic design projects, and stay creatively engaged with an ongoing photography art series over at photohaikus—a space where you’ll find standalone images paired with short poems while larger projects quietly take shape in the background.

The Contact Sheet page features some of my favorite images. If you’re wondering which were shot on film, the ones with a black frame are your clue. It also answers the inevitable question: “Do you still shoot film?” Yes, I do—and I also shoot digital. I like both. I’m format-fluid.

If you share my passion for cameras, you’re in good company. My favorite digital models ride alongside classic large and medium-format film cameras in my shooting bags. I share insights into the gear I’ve used—across both my professional career and personal work. My favorites? Medium-format ALPA and Hasselblad systems in both film and digital forms. Medium format just feels like home.

In the studio, I keep a Sinar Norma and a “P” monorail—perfect for the kind of slow, intentional work that pairs beautifully with vintage brass lenses. For fieldwork, I reach for my Ebony 4×5 or a Linhof—or a Fotoman 6×17 when panoramas are on the menu. I rarely shoot 35mm, but I still have my first SLR—a Canon AE-1—and my second, a Nikon F3T, both patiently waiting for their moment to shine again. And then there’s the Minolta CLE, compact and beautiful, though it always seems to quietly whisper, “Shoot me more!” Maybe one day I’ll listen.

I’ve come full circle in many ways, and I couldn’t be happier about it. As the articles grow and the knowledge expands, I hope you’ll stop by from time to time—there’s always something new brewing, even if I’m moving at my own (well-earned) pace.