A Path to Discovery

A personal history - and the timeless, passionate pursuit of Beauty...in the colors, shapes and words of the Everyday and the Extraordinary.

Firstly, welcome to my Website. It's very exciting to show and share my photographic and written work with all of you.

On an early Winter's afternoon, I was born to parents of all-Italian heritage in a not-so-small town in northern New Jersey. I spent my early years playing and learning like most children...but along with the everyday childhood pre-occupations I was also developing an eye for color and form and a fascination and life-long obsession with beauty - not in just the many configurations of the physical, but in the sounds, smells and tastes that seemed to abound in my small world.

Through my boyhood and the subsequent teen years - as well as into my twenties - I struggled and faltered from the residue of a troubled youth and the consequential void of confidence and self-conviction. As I reflect on those developmental years, I am reminded of the plights and agonies of so many struggling artists and their desperate ache to create...and be accepted, respected, revered.

As far back as I can remember, I have always held a fascination for photographs - the ability to capture, time, reproduce amazing colors, create confounding and provocative perspectives...and preserve and perpetuate precious moments and events.

While managing two telemarketing groups at the end of the 80's at New York City Opera, one of the callers - a woman artist - asked to view my photographs, after many conversations about our travels and how life led us to where we were. I was genuinely surprised by her reaction and secretly ecstatic that an artist would be so forthcoming with praise and encouragement. It was a defining moment: a window had opened in a room in which I had unknowingly kept myself captive. I have since forgotten her name, but am forever grateful to the woman who acknowledged my capabilities and fed me the recognition and championed the impetus to follow a dream, my passion.

2009 proved an auspicious year as I was very fortunate to meet the great David Leddick, who was extremely supportive and very encouraging - even purchasing one of my male nude images. The meeting eventually led to having one of my photos published in a book from Bruno Gmünder Verlag - "Jewels". Another unexpected - and VERY exciting and fortuitous - chapter was meeting and modeling for the multi-talented Tom Bianchi. We had met online and Tom invited me to model for him at his home in Palm Springs. What a thrilling chance to meet such a fascinating and gifted man! It was a rare reversal: taking position in front of the camera...instead of behind the lens. Tom made it fun and relaxed and the results were much to my liking.

One year later I made the momentous decision to return to Munich. Having resided here from 1991 thru 2004, my American ways had altered and I had unwittingly conformed and reoriented my life and self into that strange, extrinsic microcosm of Euro-American.

My interim in Fort Lauderdale (Florida) was a blur of six haphazard years: bouncing between a mixture of insignificent jobs - even being hired twice for a few of the jobs. The times were tough and challenging; but in hindsight, I recognize - and am grateful for - the personal growth, the wonderful friends and the personal success I took away. An unforgettable and truly joyous highlight of my life there were the five years working at Pineapple Point Guest House and Resort - a glorious paradise of peace and tropical beauty.

The subsequent years have proven to be more challenging than I had hoped, but my love and hunger for the art and magic of photography grew with every passing year. And my determination ever stronger. Admittedly, I lacked the intense drive and determination that so often breeds success...but nonetheless, I move forward with more fervor and avidity - excited to exhibit my achievements and to hopefully move and inspire you.

The adventure continues....come join me!