When I was ten, my Aunt Erm presented me with my first camera, demonstrating her knowledge of the importance of developing an early passion. Within a few weeks I was shooting my first wedding for Uncle Toby and Aunt Kathy.
At the tender age of 12, I managed to get the sole developing studio in Gainesville, FL to join two negatives together for me. This technique had never been attempted before at their studio. The end product was titled ‘Young Faces of America’, and I became the youngest artist to have a piece featured in a national museum in Jacksonville, Florida.
Subsequently, ‘Young Faces of America’ graced the covers of magazines and calendars from a range of youth-oriented organizations throughout the late 80s and 90s.
Perfection of composition was lacking, but creativity was blossoming.