My work involves documenting the Rivanna River watershed, but also pushing the documentary form into abstraction and experimentation. What can you see in the river and through the river, when you forget what you’re supposed to see?

My history with photography goes back a long way, from beginnings in the darkroom at the International Center of Photography to teaching Photoshop at Piedmont Virginia Community College. It was difficult to admit that Portriga-Rapid photo paper would not be part of my life forever, and saying good-bye to Spectra Polaroid film was another loss, though maybe not a permanent one. As a result, I learned an important lesson: as a modern photographer you’ve got to keep moving, trying out new methods, and seeing the positives in change.

Inventing photography assignments is one of my great pleasures. I love watching students learn and have fun from the visual challenges I give them. I’ve written two photography workbooks using my assignments, and I’m writing a third: projects based on the history of photography.