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Photojournalism is telling stories through pictures. It is
personal. Images are always a reflection
of the photographer. We always have
choices: the subjects we choose, the
subjects assigned to us by the jobs we
choose, how we compose what we see
through our viewfinder or the exact
second we decide to press the shutter
release.
Photographs never just happen.
Although the image is created in a
fraction of a second, you can bet
there’s been preparation to be there
and be prepared.
Being there is a big part of making the image. The Air Force
allows me to be there. I was assigned to
be a Still Photographer at the age of
17. It was third on my list of jobs that
I had to pick from in basic training.
Looking back from over a decade later, I
can’t imagine doing anything else.
I’m happiest when my son, Quentin, is
by my side, and my Nikon F-4 is around
my neck.
I’ve had good supervisors and good training (Rochester
Institute of Technology PJ graduate
[1994] and too
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many good PJ’s before
me to name). I thank them all for their
guidance. But the part I like most about
this job is the versatility it gives me
in my experiences.
I have the best job
in the service. I can go see everyone
else’s job from behind my camera, and
still come back home to my F-4 and a
lab. I get to share in so many
people’s lives.
I am a voyeur to some
and get to develop a deep understanding
of others. Each experience has added to
who I am. I have a record of the things
I’ve seen to show to those who can’t
go there. How incredible!
My current position is teaching photography at the Defense
Information School in Ft. Meade, MD. My
goal is to help the students learn to
have half as much fun doing this as I
do, and I know they’ll have great
careers.
Almost all the assignments I do
now are self-generated. A busy schedule
doesn’t allow me as much time to shoot
as I would prefer, but I just can’t
seem to keep my hands off of the one
true love of my life…photography.
To
the images
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