I joined the Navy in 1980 originally signing up to be a Photographer. AFTER I was already in and through boot-camp I was informed the rate was closed and I’d have to become an Aviation Photographers Mate IF I could get transferred to an aircraft carrier. One had to be rated to be transferred so I was stuck on a submarine tender instead.

So, I pursued photography on the side as a hobby making money here and there from people who’d seen and liked my work.

My first camera, purchased in 1982, was a Canon AE-1. It was a GREAT camera and I loved shooting with it. I shot in both B&W and Color. I processed the B&W myself from start to finish. Color I had done by places like FotoMat because color processing is temperature sensitive requiring more sophisticated equipment than B&W. The equipment to process color at the time was both expensive and I had nowhere to put it. I also did much of my own film rolling to cut the cost down.

My camera and equipment were stolen between duty stations and I really didn’t have the money to replace them. After I got out of the Navy in ’84 I started a family and providing for them took priority over replacing my equipment.

Jump forward to 2019 and the kids are grown and on their own. Now I have the time to dedicate to it again. It’s MUCH easier now with digital. Instead of waiting to see if the picture turned out you get INSTANT feedback with today’s cameras. I now shoot with a Canon 80D which I like as much as I did my AE-1.

I’ve done a couple of family events and have taken an interest in macro photography so we’ll see where that leads.