About

FAQ

How do you choose these places that you photograph?

Finding these places takes patience and diligence. It is important to find a place with a lot of soul left in it. I often hear of places in passing, then read articles or study maps to get more background. I drive around. I talk to locals. Sometimes, it takes months and hundreds of photographs to find something that catches what I am trying to convey. Other times I am lucky and I can find a single location in which I can get a few meaningful photos in a single day.

Why are you vague about some of your shooting locations?

I have had the misfortune of watching some of these beautiful and frightening places I go shoot become popularized through various mean over the year, and then vandalized beyond what I would consider photographable. I choose to keep the locations of these places vague to keep them protected. If the place becomes rehabbed, torn down, or otherwise, I’ll then publish the location with the photo.

Do you sell your prints?

Why yes I do! I have the ability to print 4x6 up to 17x22 in color or black and white. If you desire a print just hit the Contact button. Do include in your correspondence a general description of the photograph you are interested in if it is untitled. My prices vary based on size of the print and paper type. I make a point to be flexible; while I do prefer the detail of fiber papers, I am willing to use cheaper alternatives. I accept payments via Pay Pal or personal check.

What type of equipment do you shoot with?

My primary cameras are the Nikon D700 and the Olympus OM-D EM-5. I used to be an almost exclusive film shooter, however, that is becoming a harder feat to accomplish nowadays. I still shoot some film with a Canon Elan 7E, a Leica M3, and a Hassleblad 501C.

Can I use your work?

The work on this site is copyrighted and I am highly protective of it. If you have a need to use one of my pieces or reference them, please contact me.

The New FSA Project

During the Great Depression the Farm Security Administration (a.k.a. the F.S.A.) as well as the Office of War Intelligence (O.W.I.) took nine years of extensive pictures of life in America. These pictures documented the harsh struggles and the recovery from the Great Depression.

The "New FSA Project" is the brainchild of Kathryn Fishbein. The project is a re-visitation of areas that the FSA photographers originally documented during the Great Depression. The documentation monitors changes all over the country. Some places have grown and changed in many positive ways while other parts dwindled due to many changing economic circumstances.

Ghostland

In the year 2000 I moved from the East Coast to Midwest. I had opened my eyes to a whole new world when I moved out there. I saw long forgotten farmlands and houses. I saw old industry that had left the people of Midwest high and dry. For some reason, like many of us, I had forgotten that land like this could possibly exist even though it is all technically all around us. There is something so sad yet intriguing about abandoned structures. What is left behind is a puzzle. Often questions can arise in ones mind such as, “Why is this place abandoned? Who used to live or work in here?”

I endeavor to capture aspects of humanity best depicted in the absence of humans themselves. My project Ghostland shows the failing institutions of industry and mental health, the decline of the home and family unit, the persistence of nature reclaiming the remains. We as humans have left these places behind, consciously forgetting the adverse effects of creating this post-industrial decay. Of course, this is consistent with our treatment of these places back when they were still in use. Humanity needs to acknowledge the growing disassociations we create between the community, others and ourselves. Ghostland illustrates this through themes of chaos and isolation.

Scars

Through my travels around the country I noticed some of the destroyed landscapes left by mining and deforesting. I was taken aback at times by the sheer volume of destruction. Scars is quite simply my photographs of the absolute decimation that man has caused to the environment.

Other Sites

Sofia Silva Photography - Sofia's work fills me with both humor and terror. She has a wonderful eye which makes her work a pure joy to see. Sofia has always been a good friend and a major influence on my work.

Abandoned-Places - Henk van Rensbergen has a beautiful site. Honestly, I really hate most urban explorer photography for being stereotypical, bland, and soulless. Henk defies all of this with his creative and beautiful shots. His work and books are well worth your time.

Edward Burtynsky - I honestly can say I cannot think of anyone more important that has captured humanities sheer dependency on expansion and energy consumption and the dire consequences that come with it.

The Library of Congress - Have you ever wondered what your state looked like during the Great Depression? The Library of Congress has excelent photo resources.