I started reading photo magazines and books, wanting to take classes but as it is said, “life got in the way”. At the photo exhibit at the Orange County Fair in 1984, I saw pictures of the same subjects that I had taken, and the following year I entered some of my pictures. From 1985 to 2016, I entered the competition each year with the maximum of 5 entries. On a few rare occasions, I had all five of my entries accepted for display. However, I never won or even received honorable mention during the whole time I had entered. I looked at the other entries and thought to myself that mine are equal to or better than the winners. With a deflated ego, I spoke to one of the employees. He reminded me that being displayed was an honor… only 1500 pictures are displayed out of 15,000 entries. I felt better and decided to continue to work.
I am self-taught. Because of that, I am constantly learning. During a recent photo safari in the Southwest, I went to several galleries to see what was displayed and how I could get better. I don’t consider myself an artist. To me an artist creates with pen and ink, watercolors or oils. But give me a camera and a Hawaiian sunset and I will capture a mood, instead of creating one.
