My formal introduction to the history, art, and science of photography began at the University of Oregon with two remarkably-gifted professors: Bernie Freemesser and George Beltran. Professor Freemesser was a friend of American photography great, W. Eugene Smith, and photographers Brett and Cole Weston, sons of Edward Weston, another great American photographer. Freemesser and his students established the Photography at Oregon Gallery at the University of Oregon Art Museum in 1966. It was the first photography gallery at a public institution on the West Coast. In 1974, I was honored to have one of my black and white abstracts exhibited in the Museum which later, toured the state. George Beltran helped provide the guidance to help improve our photography skillfully teaching us Minor White's Zone System.

Much of my work is inspired by the writings and photographs of the early masters of photography: Paul Strand, Alfred Steiglitz, Ed Weston, Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Minor White, and others.

Other significant influences include well-known painters Jasper Johns, Robert Motherwell, Fritz Kline, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Robert Diebenkorn, Willem DeKooning, Ed Ruscha, Clas Oldenberg, Chuck Close, Jim Dine, David Hockney, and sculptor/photographer and personal friend, Brian Gaman. In sum, these artists represent what I hope to achieve in the totality of my work and beliefs.