My Photography FAQ

Why do you photograph?
By far the best (and least frequent) question I've been asked, probably also the most important question to ask myself.

The philosopher Hegel held the view that if you want to know something about yourself, you shouldn't sit down and contemplate it because you would only think what you wanted to. However, you should produce something that expresses you, your own work - and look at it. That will tell you more about yourself. This is why I photograph, but I am still not sure what it is telling me.

What equipment do you use?
By far the most frequent, and least interesting, question; but most photographers (myself included) are gear junkies and geeks. :)

My primary two cameras that I use are both all manual film cameras: a Nikon FE2 and a Hasselblad 501CM. I also have classic box cameras, a Polaroid, a 4x5 Pinhole and a ton of misc gear.

As far as glass goes, lately I'm been using my homemade lenses, all for the Nikon. Other Nikon lenses, I have a 50mm, 24mm, 35mm and 200mm. For the Hasselblad, I only have the normal 80mm lens.

The only digital camera I have is a Canon S410, Panasonic DMC-FX8 which is good for snapshots.

Do you do your own processing?
For black and white I do my own developing and printing by turning my apartment into a darkroom. I have an Omega 670 VCCE enlarger. Here's info on my developing procedure.

For color I use NewLab in SF for processing. and now all my printing color and B&W is done by WHCC.

Are you self-taught? Have you taken any classes?
I have taken several classes at UC Berkeley Extension unfortunately the photography program is in a serious state of flux and they are offering very little now. I also worked as a darkroom monitor for UCBX before the Laguna campus was closed down and they lost their darkroom.

The classes I took include: Beginning and Intermediate Black and White, Fine Art Printing, Still Life/Studio, a Seeing the Light Workshop and the only course I shot color: Night Photography.

The best thing about taking classes is meeting people, showing your work and being forced to shoot and produce something. Outside of the basics, classes don't teach you that much, though you learn it by doing, sharing and observing others. So in that way it does teach you.

If you have any other questions, or just want to say Hi, send me an e-mail: