I bought my first camera in 2017 and used it continuously until mid-2025, when I took an 11-month break from photography. The period from 2025 to 2026 was rough for me: I underwent surgeries, fell into a deep depression, was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, and moved from Missouri to our current home in Rockford, Michigan.

I am a retired software engineer and engineering manager. I published three books, was a guest speaker at the Google I/O Conference one year, and created Square's first Android mobile application alongside Bob Lee when the startup was still young. After retirement, I took up photography as a hobby, and it quickly became my "special interest," eventually leading me to teach nine classes over three years at the Shutterfest conference in St. Louis, MO. Autism and ADHD don't imply a lack of success, but these disabilities do profoundly impact my life and my art.

Autism means I prefer predictable routines and structure, have deep and focused interests, and experience social fatigue in chaotic environments or when I am around too many people. It makes me conflict-avoidant and cautious.

My ADHD is often at odds with my autism. ADHD wants me to seek novelty and excitement and to take impulsive risks. My mind is always restless, seeking something new and exciting, while simultaneously feeling overwhelmed by simple tasks.

The contradictions and tensions between my ADHD and autism benefit my art. I have extreme attention to detail, as you might pick up from this website. Novelty-seeking and risk-taking mean I am not satisfied with the status quo. I push myself hard to differentiate my work from the work of others, and this is why I picked up projection photography so many years ago. At the time, few photographers were using projectors, and even fewer were willing to share their techniques. That was an extremely appealing set of constraints, and it drew me in.

My biggest challenges as an artist include severe imposter syndrome, an autistic desire to avoid being perceived, and a lifetime of masking. Sharing art that is opinionated and that fights against the norm is something I have to deliberately pursue. Good art is going to piss off some people, invite judgment, and draw attention. For me, autism does not seek the spotlight; it seeks anonymity and conformity. I refuse to settle for mediocrity because part of my brain tells me to withdraw from the world or to do whatever it takes to fit in.

I now live with my wife in Rockford, Michigan, where I work with women of all experience levels. After that 11-month break, I have new clarity about what I will pursue and what kinds of images I will choose to make. All of that is evident in the galleries and images I choose to share here.

I am a fine-art photographer, and I occasionally delve into protest art. I only do a handful of photo shoots each month, and I will only work with people who are aligned with my style. My style uses intense light against deep shadows. My photos embrace minimalism as a creative constraint. I alternate between stark black-and-white and vibrant, saturated color. I mix technical precision with expressive posing that feels less like an editorial or fashion pose and more like an emotion on display. I hope my work does more than just look pretty; I want it to make people feel something.

Find me on Instagram and Model Society.