Photography came naturally to me through drawing and painting. The same things fascinated me: composition, subject matter, light and craft. Once I discovered the darkroom—the smell of the chemicals, the red light, and the magic of watching an image emerge—I was hooked. These early photographs come from a period when I was beginning to explore photography seriously, first with a Minolta XG7 I bought with money earned working at a local grocery store. I photographed constantly, building an archive of more than 2,000 images. While studying in Columbus, Ohio, I frequently photographed downtown and at the Columbus Zoo. One day we arrived to find the zoo closed, found our way inside, and were quickly confronted by security. By chance, the zoo's new director was walking past. It was Jack Hanna. He told security to let us stay and continue our work.
I've recently purchased a never used Minolta XG7. Opening it and holding it was like a gift. The camera has just a couple "automatic" options, otherwise it was so easy to use. I'm looking forward to shooting, developing and printing again. A darkroom is truly a magical place!
