I have spent an inordinate amount of time in dark, lonely airless rooms where I am compelled to make black & white silver gelatin prints that I hope are provocative, mysterious, and strangely beautiful. I capture images of a wide range of subjects including sea life, museum displays, statuary, and urbanscapes. From these sources I create photographs that are not entirely reflective of the real world source, but that I have transformed through my unique vision.
Of late I have been drawn to images of aquatic life or life that once existed and is now displayed in museums and other venues. I have visited over a dozen aquariums in my quest to capture the strange beauty of captive sea creatures. Aquariums, despite their artificial nature are truly magical. They bring urban dwellers closer to a part of nature that is beyond normal reach.
I seek to explore these worlds for their sheer beauty and variety, but not necessarily engage in an exploration of the political correctness of man’s relentless need to dominate and display other creatures. It is my hope with the Tank Life series that by capturing captive sea creatures in their replicated worlds that I will impart to viewers the absolute magic and awe that these living creatures inspire. And thus, increase appreciation and respect for them.
I am inspired by eerie, beautifully crafted images that draw viewers in, be they landscapes, portraits or still lifes. I do not want to replicate the harsh realities or the mundane aspects of our day to day existence, but rather create a visual haven of compelling images that stimulate viewers’ imaginations.
All work is hand-crafted in the darkroom, printed to archival standards. Prints are toned using a rather difficult toning process, thus no image is exactly the same. Each print of an image has slightly different tones, densities and highlights. Most of the work is printed on 11 x 14 glossy, fiber-based paper.