Lens Painting

My interest in photography goes back to my days in grade school. My best friend's dad was a military photographer and he introduced me to darkroom work. He gave me the basic set of trays, chemicals, paper, and a contact printer. I was hooked. I loved to see the image appear mysteriously on the blank paper in the developer tray.

I started out with a simple Kodak reflex camera. I used to haunt the photography stores in Grand Rapids dreaming of a nice camera and an enlarger. Eventually I bought a 2 1/14 x 3 1/4 Speed Graphic press camera and Federal enlarger. In the seminary I was privileged to have access to some well equipped darkrooms and work with some of the professors who also had an interest in photography. In high school a friend of mine in New York got a Nikon 35mm camera for me and I used that camera for many years wearing it out photographing church events after I was ordained.  Over the years I continued to upgrade my Nikon 35mm and recently switched to a Sony mirrorless camera the A7r.

My subjects are quite eclectic. Landscapes are probably my main interest as well as water scenes and maritime subjects. I do some still life work and a little portrait work.  From the old days of darkroom work it is wonderful to be able to produce prints right at the desk. I use a Mac computer and a PC but mostly create my prints right from my iPad. I have many apps on the iPad which allows me a lot of creativity in enhancing and manipulating my photos.

Photography has been and continues to be a wonderful hobby.