If we are to work together under stressful, trying conditions or live on the road together, we should get to know each other first to see if we're a good fit. I am a very creative Team Member, but only for short periods of time. I do not enjoy or accept shoots over very extended periods of time. To keep my interest, energy and enthusiasm I must have a steady stream of new subjects always coming in. Here’s the back story on who I am and how I got this way…

I have always been an adventure and adrenaline junkie and have pursued challenges in my career. Camera work is a perfect fit for my personality since it is an outlet to explore situations and environments that the average person can only see on TV. It started when I was young: Sent to a camp for boys (who wouldn't listen to authority figures) in the Rocky Mountains (think Outward Bound Boot Camp) during my summers, the entire time travelling on horseback, in my teens dragged back from running away from home (twice), to taking a year off of college and traveling in a VW hippie bus throughout the West and Mexico (once had long hair).

As a young boy I devoured books about adventure, danger and survival and knew early on I wanted a life lived to its fullest. Becoming a Cameraman has allowed me this and to realize all my dreams, but I have also experienced nightmares.

I grew up on the mean streets of Wilmette, Illinois (on Chicago’s North Shore), graduated from New Trier High School where I fell in love with photography, and then spent my first year at University of Arizona majoring in Theatre and having a good time.

After my year traveling in the hippie van, which was pretty much a very long camping trip, I attended Southern Illinois University’s film school for three years where I received my degree in Cinema & Photography. Next I apprenticed to Chicago Cameraman Warren Lieb, the best documentary Cameraman of his era for two years (we had incredible adventures) and then struck out on my own. I was 100% film until the late ‘80s and now I am 100% video. My film background distinguishes me from 95% of my competitors and I believe is my main underlying advantage.

Travel has been a constant in my life. I LOVE to travel to new places, especially internationally. I will give a discount to get somewhere great, especially if I haven’t been there before, and more so if there’s good scuba diving! I have very extensive Third World and Five Star Resort experience. Ten days on the road is my maximum, unless it’s in paradise. I find filming foreign, isolated, non-modern cultures fascinating, plus it's a great way to lose weight!

When I am not shooting, doing paperwork or repairing my gear I have a myriad of hobbies. If I don't answer your call on my day off it usually means I’m out horseback riding, biking in the woods, in my kayak or at yoga class (been doing that for 20 years). I'm a certified scuba diver (all over the world), fire fighting, downhill skiing, large mouth bass fishing, the outdoor firing range, antique hunting, various martial arts, an avid Civil War buff, and dozens of other past times. I am always attending some class or seminar and I devour books (non-fiction).

Personal Philosophy: I truly believe that life is short and never let grass grow under my feet. I love filming and I am extremely fortunate that my work is my favorite hobby! My life view is, "The journey is the destination " and I've been blessed with an incredible, continuing journey. I'm deep into:

Dr. Wayne Dyer (Intention), Shiva Rea (Trance Yoga), Eckhardt Tolle (Now), Jon Kabat-Zinn (Moment) and Dr. Csikszentmihalyi (Flow).

Because of my profession I stay in excellent shape, am very health and nutrition conscious (no fast food please) and have lots of energy. Even my reserves have reserves, which is necessary for a cameraman to give it his best. My main crew of freelancers and myself have a very strong Midwestern work ethic and have a lot of fun at what we do. We do not consider this brain surgery.

When the project calls for it I am tough as nails and have done extensive extreme shooting in all climactic conditions, even volcanoes. I stay cool in dangerous situations (wildlife to ghettoes) and I am now wise enough to not get myself killed because I have used up eight of my nine lives.

Creative people are far from normal, it's not something we can control. On my office wall is framed John Lennon’s slogan, “Avoid being normal”, and that’s what I have always strived to achieve and hopefully I have accomplished that goal. I am truly blessed that I love what I do and do what I love and it will show in your finshed video.

I really look forward to shooting with you someday soon.

  "Namaste"