As I mentioned earlier, I taught myself photography by shooting in manual mode—a way of working that I still prefer today, even though modern cameras can produce beautiful images with very little input from the photographer.
From the very first roll of film I ever shot, I was experimenting. I overexposed, underexposed, double- and triple-exposed, worked to emphasize highlights and shadows, intentionally blurred motion, moved the camera during exposure, created homemade filters, and tried just about anything else I thought might produce something interesting. In many ways, that spirit hasn’t changed. I still approach photography with the same curiosity and willingness to experiment in order to create images that feel artistic, memorable, and personal—whether they resonate with admirers, critics, or simply with me.
I have always been my own toughest critic. Over the last 30 years, I’ve taken well over 100,000 photographs and shared only a small fraction of them—perhaps a few hundred—that I felt were truly worthy. There have even been times when I posted an image I liked in the moment, only to later decide it no longer spoke to me and quietly remove it forever. That’s part of the process, too. Tastes evolve, standards rise, and sometimes an image that once felt complete no longer measures up.
My journey in photography has always left room for growth, and I hope it always will. I continue to learn from other artists, to challenge myself creatively, and to push the limits of what my gear—and my own vision—can do. There is always another technique to try, another way of seeing, another lesson waiting in the field. At some point, I hope to share more of what I’ve learned through teaching, writing, or simply passing along the experiences that shaped me.
For me, half the joy of photography is simply getting out there and experimenting. I’ve never been especially interested in photographing the exact same thing everyone else is shooting. That may be one reason some of my most meaningful images have come from long backpacking trips, remote camps, and difficult-to-reach locations—places where the experience itself becomes part of the photograph. Those are often the moments that stay with me the longest.
As always, feel free to drop me a note about photography, creativity, or adventure. I always enjoy the conversation.
Talk soon,
Bob
