“I’ve been doing photography for around 50 years, since my dad started out with a darkroom when I was about 7. Right now I’m shooting mostly digital black and white. I’ve tried to keep more of a vintage look to my photos instead of the modern Instagram style. I want them to have a slightly ‘film’ feel. I still do film, but with COVID last year, I probably only shot one or two rolls of that.
Over the years, I’ve always looked at people like Ansel Adams, Strand, some other people like that. But I think the biggest impact has been joining the Photographers Guild four or five years ago. Now I have this group of like-minded people. We work together. If we have a problem, we have people to help. At my age, going digital – even though I’m a computer guru by trade – photoshop’s not what I’m used to. So I’ve been learning that over the past few years. Danny Garber from the guild has been instrumental. He had a class just before COVID hit that was very, very good.
That’s been the biggest influence. It’s helped me realize, ‘Yes, I really am an artist, not just a goofy old guy with a camera.’
I’ve been following the Arts Council and been to several of the meetings. I’ve met more and more creatives in the area, and some of the younger kids who are in my son’s age group. I follow them and keep up with them. I like to encourage the younger people and teach them. I’ve taught classes for the 4-H group and things like that. In Goshen, I think we have a wide variety of people that a lot of people don’t realize. I didn’t until I started coming to the meet-ups for the art group. I didn’t know Goshen was going this direction, and I appreciate it.”
