Biography

Born and raised in Broken Bow, NE, I could not leave the Great Plains fast enough. The world pulled with all its exotic lands and cultures. So I joined the Navy, and traveled the world to see these locations. It was while visiting these far off places that I became interested in photography.

I tried to take photos of these regions as I saw them. I was left disappointed with the results, so I put down my camera.

After the Navy, I attended school in Minnesota. While in college, I continued to think about photography, and poured through magazines and books to see what other photographers were doing. In 2002 I moved back to Nebraska to work construction, and decided to pick up the camera again. In 2008 I began to get serious about my photographic work.

Four self-taught years later, I have won over 16 international, national, and regional awards. I have been exhibited in over 26 solo and group shows throughout the United States at galleries and museums, as well as in print and online. Recently, I won a Silver Award from Black and White Magazine; 3rd Place Fine Art Still Life from International "Lucie" Photo Awards; as well as a number of other awards and merits. In 2010 I was an Artist in Residence with the National Parks Service.

The main focus for my black and white fine art photography is on rural living, the Great Plains, and Nebraska.

Teaching and Lectures

• Photography and the History of the Tintype, Homestead National Monument, Beatrice, NE
• Grand Island Central Catholic High School, Pinhole Photography, Grand Island, NE
• Doniphan Trumbull High School, Pinhole Photography, Grand Island, NE
• Why We Photograph, Wings Over the Platte Lecture Series, Stuhr Museum, Grand Island, NE
• The Faces of Interior, Interior Public Schools, Interior, SD
• Camera-less Photography, Lumen Print, Cyanotype, and Anthotype, Stuhr Museum, Grand Island, NE
• Dry Plate Tintypes, Stuhr Museum, Grand Island, NE
• Nebraska Artist in Schools and Communities Applicant, Nebraska Arts Council

Selected Exhibitions

2012

• LaGrange National XXVII, Lamar Dodd Art Center, LaGrange, GA
• Black and White: The Absence of Color, MPLS Photo Center, Minneapolis, MN
• PhotoSpiva, Joplin, MO
• Two Person Exhibition with Richard Terrell, Fred Simon Gallery, Omaha, NE
• Solo Exhibition, Minden Opera House, Minden, NE

2011

• Solo Exhibition, Chadron State College, Chadron, NE
• Two Person Exhibition with Jack Karraker, TruCafe, Kearney, NE
• The Language of Light, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, Santa Fe, NM
• Simplicity, A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX
• Featured Artist, 23rd Annual Wings Over the Platte Art Exhibition, Stuhr Museum, NE
• Featured Artist, Governors Residence, Lincoln, NE

2010

• America Royal Western Art Exhibition, Kansas City, MO
• Photographers Showcase, Graham Gallery, Hastings, NE
• Visual Arts Society of Texas 42nd Exhibition, Denton, TX
• Southworks, OCAF, GA
• Group Show, Wild Rose Gallery, Broken Bow, NE
• LaGrange National XXVI Exhibition, Lamar Dodd Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
• Americas 2010 Paperworks
• Minot State University, ND
• Birds of a Feather, Sixth Street Gallery, Vancouver, WA

2009

• Trees Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
• Texas National, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
• American Royal Western Art Show, Kansas City
• Michael H Kellicutt International Photo Show, Through a Lens: Contrasting Elements, Half Moon Bay, CA
• Galex 43, Galesburg Civic Art Center, Galesburg, IL
• White, Black, and Shades of Gray, South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, MA
• Spring Exhibition, Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX

2008

• Northern National Juried Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
• Americas 2008
• Minot State University, ND
• Visual Art Society Of Texas 40th Annual Spring Exhibition, Denton, TX
• LaGrange National Biennial Exhibition, Lamar Dodd Art Museum, GA

Residencies

• National Parks Artist in Residence, Homestead National Monument, NE, 2011
• Moonshell Artist In Residence, Grand Island Central Catholic High School, Grand Island, NE, 2011
• Moonshell Artist In Residence, Doniphan Trumbull High School, Grand Island, NE, 2011
• National Parks Artist in Residence—Badlands National Park, 2010

Publications

• Black and White Magazine Single Image Special, 2011
• Platte Valley Review, 2010
• Plains Song Review Spring Issue 2009
• 28th Annual Spring Photography Finalist, Photographers Forum Magazine, 2008

Awards

• Grand Island Art Fair, 2011, First Place
• The Language of Light, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, Second Place,
• Simplicity, A. Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2011, Juror's Choice Award
• Black and White Magazine Single Image Special, 2011, Silver and 2 Merit Awards
• International Photography “Lucie” Awards, 2010, 3rd Place Fine Art Still Life and 2 Honorable Mention
• Visual Arts Society of Texas 42nd Exhibition, TX, 2010, Miller Award
• Lincoln Art Festival, 2011, Mayors Choice Award
• International Photography “Lucie” Awards, 2009, 3 Honorable Mention
• Lincoln Art Festival, 2009, Award of Excellence
• Spring Exhibition, Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX, 2009, 2nd place
• International Photography “Lucie Awards, 2008, Honorable Mention
• America Juried Art Salon, 2008, Award of Merit
• Visual Art Society Of Texas 40th Annual Spring Exhibition, 2008, Purchase Award
• LaGrange National Biennial Exhibition
• Lamar Dodd Art Museum, GA, 2008, Purchase Award