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Its hard for a man who spends his life behind the lens to fathom stepping in front of it, even for a moment. Perhaps it stems from me looking to draw out the interesting parts of the people I see through my camera, and in doing so, I've forgotten what could be interesting in me.
I was born and raised in Queens, never wandering too far from my roots. Life led me around to a few places, but in the end, I wound up in the same house I was born in. The truest form of the circle of life.
My skills with a camera comes to me through the generations. My grandfather honed his skills on a Crown Royal, the "Jimmy Olsen" camera that now sits on my shelf, being a constant source of silent inspiration. I best remember my mother with a Camera AE-1 and a worn rainbow strap. That sits on the shelf too, pushing me as well. I learned the rest on my own, on the streets, and in the darkness at the edge of a stage. Through trial and error, experience, and more than a few helpings of luck, I've found my style and became confidant in my ability to bring home what I've set out to capture.
In my personal life, I'm a divorced father of two amazing boys, who every day seem to find new ways to teach me about life. Being the father of a child on the Autism Spectrum presents it's challenges at times, but is never without it's rewards. I find myself spending hours attempting to see the world through his eyes, and perhaps to find a way to enter his. Luck, or fate, or whatever has brought me a woman who's crazy enough not just to love me and support me, but to encourage me to set new goals and then to reach beyond them. Her son brings his laughter to our little family, and his unique personality in many ways completes us. Together, the three little goofballs that appear in many of my images are the foundation of my heart and soul.
So now, I can step back behind the lens where I belong. I can go back to capturing the moments that make up life, the smiles that aren't meant to slip away in time, the sparkle in the eyes of those we love. In short.. I can go back to grasping the moment. |
