A short biography - Updated March 25, 2007

I
My Dad was a photographer in his early years and worked in a darkroom prior  to joining the navy – He loved it.
They called him “Suitcase Charlie” since he always carried around a suitcase with his images. My Mom says
that his eyes were sunken  back in his head from lack of daylight from working in a darkroom. In the navy he served as the ships photographer on an aircraft carrier.

After the service my Dad found a job in a bank were he later became a VP. He had always wished to become a pro photographer but never did. Every birthday I would ask him what he wanted and he would always respond “A Hasselblad”. Hasselblads are around 25 thousand dollars in today's market so he never did get it.

I bought my first serious camera when I was about 20 years old. I still have and use it. It is a Canon AE-1 35mm SLR. Well it wasn't very long before I discovered  women photograph well.

With the advent of digital cameras I have recently rediscovered my love of photography. I got my first digital camera in July of 2001 and shot my first model in September of 2001. Since then I have shot hundreds of models. To my surprise many photographers and  models tell me my images are very good.

So, I gave myself 2 years to build a web site and portfolio and eventually get back into this. Not for the money but just because I love to do it.

This time around I am taking it very seriously. I am actually studying how to take a good photo. I look at my old photos and cringe. I realize that the more I learn the less I know. Just hope that someday I can take images worthy of some commercial magazines.

I have been learning Photoshop for the last 6 years. I believe that I am really good at  editing, I can certainly erase any blemishes, tattoos and generally improve any image. I teach digital editing techniques on a reqular basis at my Photoshop classes

I feel that if you are only taking pictures your only doing half a job. Today's photographers need to be able to edit as well as photograph. If you think about it photographers have been doing the same thing in darkrooms for years. Digital editing programs just make this a lot easier and available to almost everyone. These programs are just a tool, as is
a pencil. If you give a pencil to 5 different people no one will draw the same picture.

I also shoot almost daily as a photo journalist/photographer for four newspapers in NJ. I have recently sold images for DVD covers, Corporate promotions, Greeting Cards and of course personal clients.

Willy