Open Theme nominee

I am inspired to photograph Lake Michigan in every way I can — from sweeping seascapes to macro shots of its shoreline. I aim to capture as many of the lake’s moods as possible. I want each image to convey a quality of the lake that resonates with a viewer, helping them appreciate the lake as a magnificent natural wonder.

My goal is for the entire body of work to form a mosaic that shows how beautiful the lake is, how important it is to our community, and how essential it is that we cherish and protect it.

I create photographic art. Mostly of nature. Sometimes of Man. Often of both. My work focuses largely on Lake Michigan and Chicago. Two muses I love to photograph. One a giant natural wonder and the other a giant man-made wonder living side-by-side. How they live together is a fascination and an inspiration. I look both to nature’s fluid and unpredictable patterns and colors and to the rigidity of Man’s architecture and the build environment. I endeavor to find them at their best and in ways that show an unusual view or perspective. The images are altered as little as possible and mostly to reflect what I saw through my lens. My artistic efforts center more on shooting — subject selection, composition and timing — than on post-production. I am proud and privileged to have the opportunity to awaken in viewers an appreciation of and respect for both the natural and man-make worlds around us.