My goal is to create artistic photographs.  Many of the subjects derive from my travels, but I do not do "travel photography."  With the exception of some of the earlier photos, the majority of my pictures on this website, and all since the late 1990s, are digital.  The technical aspects of digital photography and printing are no less important than those of the traditional darkroom,  and, in some ways, more interesting and challenging.  Digital technology introduces countless possibilities and so many variations in technique...it looks so simple!... but has the potential to become overwhelming.  Moreover, the goals and philosophy in producing photographs are just as important as the technical road one travels to make them.  Simply because the word "digital" implies the use of a certain technology in capturing, processing, and printing images does not mean one must become a slave to that technology...any more than it ever did in the history of analog photography.  In fact,  producing the detailed, sharp image we call  "photographic" is not my goal; there should be a purpose behind a photo or set of photos.  Having said that...

I currently use a Canon 5D Mark II camera.  Many earlier pictures were taken with a Canon A1, Nikon 990, Olympus 10N, and Canon D60, 5D, and 20D.  For most pictures, I currently use a Canon EF 24-105 mm f/4.0L IS USM, a Canon  EF 50 mm f/1.4, and a Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4.0-5.6 DO IS USM lens.  For a long time, I found a good weight and size balance, especially for traveling, was achieved with a Canon EF 28-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens and a Sigma 70-300 mm f/4.0-5.6 APO lens.  I edit my pictures with Adobe Photoshop, and print with an Epson 7600 inkjet printer, using Ultrachrome pigmented inks, with Matte Black ink.  I use the ICC profiles for each paper and specialized ICC profiles, such as those produced by Bill Atkinson  or Red River Paper.

There are many software programs and filters to assist in editing, achieving certain effects, and printing.  I try to avoid special effects, which are more in the realm of graphic design.  Nevertheless, software tools are important in digital photography.  In preparing and printing photos, I  use, as needed, Pictographics iCorrect EditLab, DxO Optics Pro, Nik Sharpener Pro, Nik Color Efex 3.0 filters, Nik Viveza, OnOne Phototools Pro, , and OnOne Genuine Fractals.

One of my favorite papers for routine work is Red River Aurora smooth fine art paper, a 15 mil - 250 gsm coated paper (www.redriverpaper.com); I also use other similar papers.  The prints are usually 15-18" x 20-24" in size.  These pictures are edited at 360 ppi.  I use Adobe Photoshop and OnOne Genuine Fractals in preparing the images for printing at these sizes.  The Epson printer driver settings I usually use for this printer are:

Most of my framing is done by Bernzweig Framing, in San Francisco.

There are many fine books and web sites available with information about digital photography and printing.  The following are sites and resources which helped me a lot; the list is by no means comprehensive.  I like Imaging Resource, (which also puts out a newsletter, www.imaging-resource.com); Luminous Landscape (www.luminous-landscape.com); Steve's Digicams for equipment reviews (www.steves-digicams.com/); InkJetArt for information, inks, papers, and supplies (www.inkjetart.com); Red River Paper for paper (www.redriverpaper.com); Foundation for Latin American Anthropological Research (F.L.A.A.R.) for... Don't ask  (www.maya-art-books.org/html/flaar.html, www.flaar.org); and Harald Johnson's "Mastering Digital Printing" for printing guidance.  I also like Mikkel Aaland's "Shooting Digital", and Ben Willmore's "Adobe Photoshop CS Studio Techniques."  The list, however, is endless.

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