Biography
After retiring from a
hi-tech position in
Silicon Valley in 1995 with 35 years of service, I was finally free to concentrate on the 2 hobbies that I’ve tinkered with for many years. Photography and Woodworking.
Photography: Growing up in The Bronx, NY, I was given a Brownie Box Camera at around age 10. A couple of years later I obtained a developing tank and a print box which allowed me to develop film and make contact prints in a bathroom darkroom. About 20 years later, still in New York, I progressed to working with 35mm and 2-1/4” film with an enlarger but still in the bathroom. In 1974 when my wife Lisa and I, along with our 2 children, moved to San Jose, I built a real darkroom in our garage. This sufficed for many years allowing me to learn and develop photographic skills. Since moving to Nevada City in 2000, I along with many photographers, both amateur and professional, converted to digital photography. Now, after taking my pictures, I sit in front of a computer to produce the final prints rather than working in a dark smelly toxic darkroom. My favorite subjects are nature and scenic. The products that I produce for sale are greeting cards and prints as large as 13” X 19”. The prints are sold either matted or unmatted at the buyer’s discretion. The matted prints can be framed or unframed.
Woodworking: I began working with wood in 1974 when I got my first Radial Arm Saw. I took a Woodworking class at Adult Education and was hooked. I have since taken several Woodworking classes at San Jose City College and bought lots of new tools. Over the years I have made furniture, household items, birdhouses and many other things for myself or gifts for family and friends. Along with other members of the Welcome Wagon Woodworking Group I participated in making rocking horses, train sets and other toys for local children shelters and facilities. The items that I prefer making for sale are small gift items that I turn on a lathe. These include pen & pencil sets, bottle stoppers and other unique items.