Being a hometown girl, from a family of three photographers (father and two brothers), who all worked at Kodak…you might say I inherited the “photo gene!” My commitment to photography is embedded.
American Way Collection is simply that…a photographic documentation of people, places, and things. I consider a “life’s work,” started in my early days, developed over the years, and currently ongoing.
Sometimes it’s an unhurried perspective on a common object that portrays the importance of a time or place. Or perhaps evoke a memory of, or nostalgia for, a period of America gone by. A small avenue into the passing of time.
Largely, the streets are my love. At a time when fewer of the images we see are an honest representation of real life, street photography provides a window on the world that actually surrounds us here and now. The poetry of the street emerges when situations are unexpected, mysterious, humorous, poignant, or history-making unfold. To compose art amidst the fleeting street frenzy, with the surroundings being the supporting character.
In the blink of an eye, a moment can not only be captured, but then the viewer is given the opportunity to see infinite interpretations of what that moment might be. Exchanges of everyday life, vividly and timelessly framed. I also frequently arm myself with a telephoto and boldly engage in the practice of zooming in on random people well within the public eye.
My casual portrait images convey a distinctly different sensibility. These photos document people I’ve met along the way, with impromptu portraits…wherever I may find them. My goal is to delve beneath the surface and reveal insights in the lives, character, and soul of those individuals. Making these images involves genuine interpersonal interactions that transcend cultural and language barriers.
Chat a bit, share a story, and maybe a smile…and always a tip. These people deserve the attention.
Many of my images are hand-colored, or color applied. I use a variety of artist’s materials to create my trademark hand-colored gelatin and silver gelatin prints. Each image is an original, individually colored and finished.
Thank you for viewing my photographs.