1. Which photographers have influenced your work?
The most influential photographers in my career have been Douglas Kirkland, Don Emmerich and Hanson Fong.
2. What is the one thing about the photography business that you wish you had learned earlier in your career
That's hard to say since it feels like I was there at the beginning of photography. I would have to say that the best thing I've learned is that other people may have ideas that you can use to improve your photography. That's one of the reasons I choose to teach. When you go to a seminar you need to look for the hidden jewel, that tidbit of information which you can immediately use to improve yourself, your work or your business.
3. What advice would you give someone thinking about starting a career in photography?
The only limits on the photographer or those he or she puts on themselves, however you shouldn't enter this business unless you're passionate about it. In most cases it's not about money, it's about letting the world see something they've never seen. It's about creating images which demand the viewer's attention.
4. Where do you get your inspiration for photography? How do you generate fresh ideas?
As a photographer who comes from the film days and has transitioned to digital, fresh ideas are not hard to come by. There were thousands of things that I would've liked to try during the days of film which now can be done because of the tools digital offers. Whether it's Photoshop or Coreldraw I feel like I'm playing with 25 different sets of crayons where in the past I only had one. It's not just about your eye anymore.
Its how you pre-visualize coupled with how well you understand what can be done after the fact, in postproduction. The game has changed completely. It's almost like the world of photography was reset. Everyone, young or old is now on a level playing field and scrambling to learn as much as they can. What they learned helps to create dynamic images. It allows us to experiment in areas that have never been touched photographically. Digital was the dawn of a new age within photography
5. What is your most memorable photo or photo shoot that you have done?
In a 40 year career you can understand that a single image doesn't come to mind. I enjoy the historical sense of what I've done. As the official photographer of the Yankees I walked on centerfield and experienced the World Series several times. Photographing presidents Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan and Bush as well as luminaries such as his Holiness the Pope, and the Dalai Lama are wonderful also.
I enjoy shooting the tennis tour and the relationships that I've created over the years with the players and celebrities I deal with.
Nowadays, I looked towards some of the images I've created using the new digital technologies. The Hawaiian Temple photo which is called Contemplating the Temple and the Brooklyn Bridge with birds which is called For God's Sake Stop Feeding the Birds, come immediately to mind. If I have to name one shoot, it would probably be when the Commissioner of Baseball asked me to photograph the team shot of the 25 years of Most Valuable Players.
6. What other piece of equipment (besides a camera or a computer) do you always have on a shoot?
I am an Additive school photographer. What that means is that there is no photograph that doesn't need additional light. For that reason I always have a portable flash with me as well as reflectors.
7. Please name five important accessories you always carry with you on a shoot?
Well, for starters you should always have two of everything important with you in case something fails. Additional to that I have a backup hard drives and cards. I have lens cleaners, model releases, business cards, and assistants. In this modern age we never work alone.
8. If you could be in any other profession than photography, what would you like to be?
Seeing that I started my outside of school life as a singer in a band, certainly rock star comes to my mind. Having played tennis for most of my life it would've been perfect if I could have made a living doing that. The best job in life is doing what you love to do. My photography is what I love to do.
