The youngest of ten kids, I grew up in a rural community in the wide open prairies of South Dakota.  I became interested in photography through the influence of my older brother. He’s always been the photographer in our family, and I started out as his “assistant” and one of his primary subjects.  Through art classes in high school and photography books from the library, I soaked up all the information I could and also worked as a photographer for my high school yearbook and newspaper.  I spent my free time taking photographs, hunting, fishing, and learning about the outdoors.

I attended St. Cloud State University and worked part time as a photographer for the public relations department. I shot a huge amount of film during this period, allowing me to develop my photographic skills. I owe a lot to my friend Jim Altobell, who ran the photo department there, and taught me much.  I received my bachelor’s degree in Photographic Engineering Technology in 1991. Although I presently work full time as a computer network engineer, photography remains my passion, and I am actively pursuing it as a full time occupation.

I met my wife, Teri, in 1998. She took me on the first of our many trips together to the north shore of Lake Superior. I had long been a follower of Minnesota nature photographers Craig Blacklock and Jim Brandenburg, so I had seen their photographs of the area. I was nevertheless awed by the scenery, the vastness of the lake, the serenity of the woods. My passion for nature photography grew from seeing the beauty of the north shore in person and challenging myself to convey the feeling of nature to others.

I recently made the switch to digital, and now I use a Nikon digital SLR for all my photography. Darkroom work is a vital component to making a print I want to display.  Digital allows me the ability to finish an image myself. The techniques I use are not unlike traditional darkroom processes, although they are of course applied in a different manner.  I don’t do drastic digital manipulation; combining unnatural elements to create an artificial scene. I use subtle changes of light and color to help convey what I see, and to hopefully share that with the viewer of the photograph. I concentrate on nature, wildlife and architecture photography but I also photograph the occasional wedding or portrait. My nature photography has been published in the Star Tribune, the Eden Prairie News, and has been in local art exhibits.

 I live in Eden Prairie, Minnesota with my wife Teri, and our two black labs, Orion and Ruby.

The web site galleries offer a small sampling of my work. If you are interested in purchasing a photo or would like more information, please contact me.