About Me

Life was not easy for me as I grew up as a young punk on the streets of Everett, Washington, where I remember many nights of going hungry and cold. If it wasn't for being taken in by children services and then being adopted by a hard working and loving family, I doubt I'd be alive today.

"If you don't work, you don't eat." My adopted father would always say, as we fell trees, fed the animals and mended fences. I learned some hard lessons about a life of work, and even though I graduated in the top 10% of my high-school class, I had no clue what do with myself and so I joined the Navy in September of '83.

It was at the military commissary in Naples, Italy where I purchased my first camera: a Canon T-50 with a 50mm f1.4 lens to satisfy the growing desire for a photographic "hobby" of mine, which became a constant companion as I toured much of the Meditteranian.

"The Navy doesn't pack a wife in your sea bag." A phrase I clearly remember from a Master Chief when I discussed my desire to leave for a full time civilian job to raise my family, (eight years and three med cruises can take it's toll on a relationship). While my discharge was honorable, life again was not. Jobs were hard to find in '92. I traveled and worked various jobs in Louisiana, Florida, and Virginia.

In 1994 I found myself in the care of Tim Lenihan, the lead project engineer for Arrow International's engineering department in my wife's home town of Reading, Pennsylvania. I was hired as a temporary data-entry clerk and knew little about computers, (much less about product development). However, I had an important skill: I could read, and combined with a good work ethic I instantly warmed up to the job, and the hard working people that surrounded me.

Group shot holding the FDA approval documentation for the Microwave Ablation Catheter. The Arrow is pointing to me behind Just behind my boss, Tim.

Within a year, I was hired on full time as an engineering technician, with my own lab, and going to night school working on an MET2. I help to design and build catheter components, test and assembly benches. I learned about statistical analysis, the mechanics of statics and the dynamics of materials. It was like a six-year long science fair experiment and I loved it.

One of my micro assembly and test benches for catheters.

"Innovation", while it sounds compelling, is actually hard work. It's long tedious hours of study, design, building and testing. It can take days, weeks, even months to derive a plausible answer. Should that answer be "No." Instead of giving up, you ask: "Why is it 'no'?" Then your off again to find that answer. The phones would ring often to remind me that it was 7pm and dinner was getting cold.

I also learned about drafting, solid modeling, machining, and project planning. Including additional skills in photography, video, and animation to support proof of concept and product demonstration. I loved the graphics aspect so much that I decided to make a career change.

"Be careful what you ask for, Pete. You just might get it." I clearly remember those words from a fellow engineer, Jeff Moyer. I was fearful that the company had bigger plans for me when I graduated, and now, half-way through, I wanted to go into advertising and create animations and shoot video.

"Welcome aboard." Were the first words from my new boss, Rick Yanchelif, Arrow's Corporate Advertising Manager. Apparently the company was willing to keep me on and created a new position as a Multimedia Developer. The company photographer had left a vacancy and they decided to expand upon that, and for the next eleven years I worked alongside designers, marketing managers and engineers in supporting their graphic needs.

To have a creative artist whom thinks like an engineer was the perfect fit in a product driven company. It was the dream job, and match made in heaven. Applying the same rules I built a studio and designed special rigs to aid me in my photography.

While I survived an initial company merger, the clock was ticking and in September of last year it was my time to go (much to the dismay of the marketing managers I served). So, seventeen years later it's deja vu, and as many of you know it's tuff all over again.

The role of digital media has made a major impact on the market that is already in a downward trend, as there was a time you had to hire a photographer to produce a useable piece, which can be now be done by the average Joe with off the shelf solutions. That leaves the upper 10% of jobs were expertise over gear matters for me and many others out there.

I've had to make some hard decisions with finances and lifestyle. It's nothing to cry about, as the worry and fret is just extra baggage I don't need. I still feel good as I have some excellent skills, including video and digital technology, and it will be a matter of time to find the right people in need of them. While I have taken on some gigs, it's nothing monumental as being part of a family with a clear goal and direction in mind.

It's not a life without experiences, and while I have 'lived', there are still more chapters yet unwritten.

Where do I go from here? I'm working on that. If you have an idea, I like to hear about it.

So that's it, full disclosure of who I am, and what I've done. While I don't own ten houses and my Grand Cherokee has 100K miles on it. I can't complain. I've traveled to many places in the world, got to be an inventor and a commerical photographer with a studio. When you think about it that way, it's not too bad, eh?

About my gear and skills

For photography, with exception of my medium format Mamiya, I shoot with Canon cameras. While I embrace digital technology, I still experiment and shoot with vintage lenses, and I have an extensive and growing gallery of images and prints for sale as well.

I also shoot full production video, create animations, and build websites.

Life's not all about work, I also enjoy fine art or still life photography, riding Jeeps, going off-road and hiking. Including the weekend McParknic's (Happy Meals in the Park with the kids for a picnic).

If you're new to photography, my advice is that you try not to become overwhelmed with all the technology at once. It takes time to master the art, and it's best accomplished in small steps. While reading and research is a good thing. Don't believe everything you read, and when you do, make sure it's from reliable sources. Those sources basing their facts on the outcomes of an actual experience.

Second, the only way to truly comprehend a given subject is by hands on. That means doing it. Experiment with your friends, or rent or buy the thing and see for yourself.

Third, and more important, have fun with it. Enthusiasm is the fuel of the success engine. Just admit to it: You will be embarrassed. You will screw up. There will always be a "first job", or "first time". Even for me, even today. Such issues are either challenges, or obstacles. Your attitude will determine how you view them, and whether or not you'll accept the next assignment, or put the gear on eBay.

Finally, photography, while very rewarding, is not about money. You might have to hold a hammer, a steering wheel, or a spatula long before you can hold a camera to bring food to the table. That's life. If you want something bad enough, you'll keep at it.

Contact me if you have any questions, or are in need of my services or help.

About the Prints.

Click here To learn about my process and the printing services I use.

About this Website.

I designed, built and maintain this website for the purposes of sharing my knowledge with the photographic community, and to showcase my work, projects and interests.

I do my best to find time to keep it up to date. A website can be a timely undertaking for someone with a busy schedule. There are bound to be errors, and I appreciate any feedback on any corrections you find, or comments you wish to make.

Do note that I am not affiliated with any particular brand, product, or service. If I happen to be using a particular product or service, it's only because that product or service is doing the job I expected it to do. Good enough?

Advertising on my site.

Only if I get free stuff. :)

Keep Shooting.