Photographs on this page have received some recognition in some sort of a show or competition or perhaps an online display. They may not necessarily be strict monochrome images as my photography is not limited to monochrome. For the most part they have been custom printed on archival paper, mounted and framed.
One of the things I like to do with my camera is look for something just a little different. If it results in a simplistic — even minimalistic — image, then so much the better. In this case, there is simply one lone stalk of grass, just jutting up a little higher than all the stalks around it against a clear and cloudless sky. Nothing more. To me, it is the elegant simplicity of the image that makes it special.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 22" x 17".
First Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional 2024 Spring Competition
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is, perhaps, one of the most elegant of all public monuments. At 59 years old, it looks as though it were still on the drawing board just yesterday. Its simplicity of design, and its finish in stainless-steel instead of stone just make it a very special piece of architecture.
Shiny and silver, it soars over the Mississippi River and St. Louis. Visually it appears to be farther from top to bottom than it is from side to side. But that's not the case; its height and width are the same. Its shape is that of a weighted catenary, a lovely curve.
There are many, many photos of the Arch, so I wanted to try and capture the marvelous elegance of it in a different way. I went about taking pictures of it from many different viewpoints. This is but one of several perspectives.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 22" x 17".
Second Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional 2024 Spring Competition
It's just an another anodyne photo of the woods. We all take this photo at one time or another. In this case, it seemed to me there was an open aisle back to the tree in the center of the photo. When I looked at it at home, I didn't see it. Not unusual. Often I take a picture thinking I see something special that disappears when I get it on the computer screen.
In this case, I still liked the image and wanted a reason to keep it. So it became "digitally enhanced photography," as I tried to emulate a woodcut. Whether it really looks like a woodcut or not, I rather like the final result.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 22" x 17".
First Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional 2024 Spring Competition
Not everything I do is monochrome photography. This is a manifest example of that with its few, but very bold colors and illustration-like aesthetic.
Reach back to 1962 or '63 and recall Andy Warhol's pop-art screen prints of Marilyn Monroe. They were quite fun and they really put Warhol on the map. This is digital art designed to emulate Warhol's iconic screen prints. It starts with a photograph, but soon becomes an illustration.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 22" x 17".
First Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional 2023 Fall Competition
For some reason, at one time fences were popular to define family cemetery plots. I am not sure why. Surely the stone monuments are not going to get itchy and roam around at night. And they are certainly not going to keep out those folks who want to get in.
Anyway, the fences are often somewhat ornate and offer opportunities for photos. In this case, the nice long straight run and the repetitive pattern of the fence presented the perfect circumstance for a photo.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 17" x 22".
First Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional 2023 Fall Competition
A low perspective shot of a Corvette parked in the shade at a state park in Missouri. It was a Corvette Club picnic, and I had my choice of 'Vettes to photograph. Everything was perfect and I was able to center the car in the frame with nice shadows that give the impression it is just appearing out of the darkness.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 17" x 25".
First Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional Fall Competition
A black and white image with digital restyling to emulate a charcoal sketch. A bit of red on the identification plate and a touch of green on a marker light complete the effect.
"On May 26, 1934, a gleaming new train named for a Greek god of wind began a nonstop "Dawn to Dusk" speed run from Denver to Chicago. The Zephyr completed the trip in just over 13 hours, ushering in a new height of train travel and style."
– Chicago Museum of Science > Industry
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 17" x 22".
First Place 2023 Lone Star Art Guild State Competition
First Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional 2022 Fall Competition
An egg is a lovely thing to behold. But, as the old adage goes, the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. For this photo, the egg has been left as it began, in its original form; what has been called the "perfect shape." And to complement its simple, elegant contours, I chose a plain white bowl and a white background. To complete the theme of multiple whites, I gave the image a high key finish.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 11" x 14".
Honorable Mention 2023 Lone Star Art Guild State Competition
First Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional Spring Competition
At one time this pennywort was elegant and beautiful. Alas, time has marched on, and the pennywort has felt its ravages. Now it is withered and marcescent and just so much detritus in the pond.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 11" x 14".
First Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional Fall Competition
This is not a monochrome image, but rather polychrome with two tints added to the black and white.
The photo was taken in the early morning at a small nearby lake. The young grebe was alone and quietly enjoying the calm, smooth water as the sun was beginning to rise. The scene was the very essence of tranquility.
Custom printed by the photographer on acid-free premium matte paper at 12" x 18".
Second Place Lone Star Art Guild Regional Fall Competition