It all started by chance

Yes, it’s true. Everything photography related in my life began by pure chance. I grew up under in the community led by Kodak, yet I was never really into photography. My life was just documenting what my family was doing using a simple point and shoot camera. Then again, this is what the Kodak business model was about, providing the ease of use with simple cameras.

This first time I was ever told that I had any talent, was a random photo excursion with a friend in North Carolina. Robert Wilder was heading out to take pictures of a roadside that was built up with old cars. These cars were buried in layers along a creek bed, creating a wall to hold back the earth used as a base for the roadway. I tagged along with my simple Kodak point and shoot digital camera. Robert took a look and remarked at how I saw shots he never did, granted I wasn’t afraid to climb into the cars to grab some shots. In truth I never took this to heart. I never tried to grow my skills, get better gear, our see how far I could take this photography thing. I was happy just taking snapshots with my tiny camera.

Several years later I was preparing for my wedding. My soon to be wife and I had started hiking waterfalls in the region, just for fun, and I would bring that point and shoot to try and grab a few pictures. These are the shots that led me to try and get a bit better at photography. I purchased an entry level Nikon camera, and started learning but by bit. (Or screw up by screw up) I took several pictures that my wife soon determined should be hanging on our wall. I never set out to be a photographer, it was just chance that I had a modicum of talent. It was also my way of getting involved in something my wife enjoys. These were to be all private photos, originally destined to just sit on my computer.

Then one day while eating at my favorite Puerto Rican Restaurant in the area, a discussion started with the owner. Before I knew it, they had purchased ten photos to decorate their restaurant’s walls. My path to being a photographer had begun.

Now that you know of my origins, stay tuned as I discuss possible future projects. The ideas are starting to form, and the planning for some has already started. Are any collaborations? How will they blossom? What final form can you expect? We shall all see together.