My passion for photography began at Bayside High School, where I was first captivated by the entire process of composing a shot to the "magical" experience of developing and printing in a darkroom. I pursued this interest at the School of Visual Arts, earning a BFA while studying the works of masters like Ansel Adams and Lee Friedlander. I was even fortunate enough to have the iconic Duane Michals as a guest professor.

To support my studies, I drove a NYC Checker cab. I eventually merged my night job with my art through a year-long project, using an Instamatic camera to photograph my passengers, while inviting them to photograph me in return. Most were anonymous New Yorkers, but I also captured legends like Mary Travers (of Peter, Paul & Mary) and Salvador Dali. This "rolling studio" caught the eye of New York Times columnist Richard Shepard, leading to a featured article and my own "15 minutes of fame".

Eventually, sustaining a full-time art career in New York proved challenging, and I pivoted to another long-standing interest: psychology. I returned to graduate school to earn my MSW.

I have now been a psychotherapist for over 40 years. I have always believed that these two chapters of my life are deeply connected; my photography background made me a better therapist, just as being a therapist has made me a more insightful photographer. Ultimately, both fields rely on the same fundamental pillars: examination, introspection, interpretation, and exploration.