Biography
I chose to pursue two fields in Journalism, Writing and Photography.
My Childhood was filled with opportunities to see and experience diverse American sub-cultures across the Western half of the United States. Utah was always “home base” if you will. I moved with my family to and from the same small town several times. It was the town where my Grandparents lived. They were steadfast, reliable and a great influence in my life.
My first introduction to the power of Photography came when I was a child. My Grandmother took me to a Beauty Pageant at the local High School. Overall I was rather unimpressed. What did impress me though was a long banquet sized table along the front of the stage. Stretched across the table were photo filled shoe boxes, albums, and loose pictures. When the pageant ended audience members were encoraged to go look at the table’s contents. Could any of the people or locations in the medley of unmarked photos be itdentified? I remember seeing potos of Women and Children at a clothes line. Some pictures were of Men working at a steel mill, One was the funeral of an elderly woman. I was awestruck with the realization that this was a visual history of these people, and this place.
I got my first Camera at age fourteen. It was a 110 Film Camera. I paid for film and it’s developing by working beside my Mom at a small restaurant in Colorado. She was a cook, I washed dishes.
When I married I put my dreams on hold and focused on the details of family and finance. Raising a family has proven to be a gratifying experience and I have enjoyed the journey. My children who are now grown have a well documented visual history of their lives. The photos are mostly candid shots nothing grand or artistic.
In 2006 I started classes at Salt Lake Community College. I am working towards an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Visual Art and Design/ Photography Emphasis. Along the way I discovered I have a bit of skill in the writing arena. In addition to the basic college writing classes I have received instruction through a private writing school, The Writers Studio of Utah. This additional instruction has been instrumental in developing my talents as a features writer.
I am currently working as a free lance Photojournalist and Journalist for local News Papers and Periodicals.