Frequently Asked Questions
What camera equipment do you use?
Over the years I used a wide variety of camera systems from a number of manufacturers. My current setup is a Wista VX 4x5 view camera, a Pentax 67 Medium-Format camera, and Canon 5D digital SLR, each with a selection of lenses.
What film do you use?
I use a combination of film and digital capture. My primary color film is Fuji Provia. For black-and-white work I normally convert from color capture or in some cases use Fuji Acros and Kodak TMax films.
Why are most images on this site vertical?
The very same question dawned on me one day when I realized most of my personal favorites were vertical. I realized this is just my personal sense of aesthetics more than anything else - I tend to see compositions that work better as vertical rather than horizontal. A follow-up from fellow photographers is sometimes whether I photograph the same scene in both horizontal and vertical. The answer is usually no - I am not a stock photographer so my images are not specifically made to accomodate flexible layouts (as in magazines or other publications).
Your site and newsletter mention various manufacturers and brands of equipment and film. Are you affiliated with or sponsored by any of them?
No. At this time I am not affiliated with nor sponsored by any business or manufacturer. If this changes, I will state so clearly on this site and in the newsletter.
I don't recognize many of the places featured in your images. Why are there so few images of well known scenes?
This touches on several important issues. The first is purely artistic - I try to make unique images. The well-known icons in America's national parks are stunning to behold but as an artist I don't feel I can be as original or offer a unique personal interpretation for scenes that have been photographed many times before. The second issue is one of preservation - the well-known areas are for the most part already protected within the boundaries of parks and monuments while many of the places I photograph are not. I hope that by exposing their immense beauty I can do my part in helping secure similar protection for them as well.
I'm wondering where [some image] was made. Can you tell me how to get there?
That's a question I often struggle with. On one hand I want to promote awareness to these places, but on the other hand I know that if they get "too famous" before they become protected, there may not be much left to protect. Further, many of them are located in spots that require some off-trail hiking and route-finding in remote areas. Not knowing someone's outdoor skill level, I would hesitate to be responsible if anything happens as they try to follow my directions. For now I try to answer such requests on a case-by-case basis, depending on the sensitivity of a specific location and what I know about the person asking. Please understand I'm not trying to monpolize these places. I am truly concerned for their well-being, and for yours.
Why are some images available in certain sizes and others are not?
I always prefer to compose my images in-camera and print the full frame. Since different film formats have different aspect ratios, the final print size may differ between them. For example, a 4x5 image will print to 8x10 with no cropping, but a 35mm image will require significant cropping to be printed at that size (but will print well to 8x12). This web site is programmed to automatically calculate the optimal print sizes for each image.
Also note that smaller formats do not lend themselves to very large prints, which is why some print sizes are not offered for them. Still - I am willing to accommodate requests for any print size or cropping option for a special purpose, so if the specific size you seek is not listed - please contact me.
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