Tulsa is a rich canvas. Everyday scenes that tell us about our history or illustrate changes taking place in our city are my favorite themes. Roses blooming in winter is an example, or the passing of seasons. One collection, in black-and-white, offers less seen perspectives on our city. Other collections look at graffiti and find unexpected dimensions of art and social commentary.
Ethno-photography, or “cultural photography”, is about cultures and peoples. It is made though the simple process of seeing, documenting photographically, and analyzing the information in the photo to deduce the meanings contained in what has been observed.
We learn by studying architectural style and decorative arts. We learn from looking at the landscapes where people live because of how geography influences cultural formation. My photos primarily focus on people and how they live, but especially on the faces of people. All the photos, whatever the type, serve as a first level record (or “primary source”) that becomes the basis for identifying significances that give insights into a culture.
My photos have been exhibited in public and private gallery spaces in print and electronic format. I've also created illustrated essays specifically to be published on the web.
Selections of both kinds are included on this website.
On this page I've mentioned "ethno-photography" and "cultural photography" without defining the terms, though they are used interchangeably. A full discussion is contained in a brief essay on this website. The essay also touched on photography in general and its uses and limitations.