New beginnings
My first memories with a camera were with an old Polaroid camera found in the office of my dad’s work. After a few snapshots of a broken and cracked concrete floor I can remember sitting and watching the magic of the image appearing before my eyes. I can still see those first images with an old and dirty Honda floor mat covering a part of the photo. Honestly just thinking of those images bring back a flood of memories. It even triggers other senses as I can faintly smell the shop for the power equipment sales and repairs performed nearby. I wish I still had those photos now but that’s about 35 years ago and I probably destroyed the evidence that night so I wouldn’t get in trouble for using my dad’s stuff but that’s the power a photo can have. I just didn’t realize where this might end up taking me.
Fast forward a bunch of years, not to many though please, and I’m a guy with a bunch of gear, books, and experiences. I began a small portrait business that helped fund this growing passion. Everything began to grow and expan to where I had to make a major decision. As I did more portraits it took more time away from what I enjoyed most. I began to look at my cameras more and more as work and not the joy they used to bring me. Do I continue down that road or bring it back into focus for what matters to me. And yes, that pun was intended just so my kids can roll their eyes at me again.
Somewhere in the middle
It was in 2014 if I remember correctly when I began getting more serious about photography and that quickly entertwined with my love of being outdoors. At this time I started a small blog sharing stories of my little adventures. That small path quickly grew into a highway and everything changed. Hit the brakes and let’s go back and explore some of those dirt roads we blitzed passed.
Turning 41
Strange as it may seem, 40 didn’t seem that big of a deal to me but as this last winter went on and 41 approached I began to feel like I was missing something. I’ve joked that I’m having my own little mid life crisis but I have pulled the plug on my website and brand and have picked up where I left off some years ago under a new name and a new agenda.
The Crooked Camera is my way of reclaiming my passion. I hope to share stories and photos of my adventures and wanderings that will provide you with entertainment as well as information. I’ll showcase some of my favorite photos, and places to explore using any and all tools available to me. This will hopefully grow in time as well and I will travel further from home. I’d like to review products I’ve used but that will be a limited list as all of this is funded by myself but maybe I can help guide a few people. And just because I’m a bit of a dork I’ll be throwing in some fun features that have nothing to do with photography or the wilds but are huge parts of my life and are entertaining.
And so now begins the next chapter. I hope you enjoy and please feel free to contact me with tips, suggestions, comments, or questions.