Artist Statement

"I'm not taking pretty pictures of you." My subjects understand this, ...then we proceed.

I am an interpretive portrait photographer. My objective is to build and photograph an implied relationship that clearly bears my personal imprint.

Even though each sitter has a unique set of personal qualities, revealing them is not my sole purpose.

My photographs are the embodiment of four relationships. Each have their own narrative and privilege which overlap and weave.

Interaction
Character
Intention
Environment

The subject is interpreting my ideas and expressions. I'm photographing that.

The artist statement is a direct reflection of the photographs within my print portfolio. When I see someone of interest, I say to myself, 'I know you'. An image in my mind appears of how that person should be photographed, and I have deep emotional expressions, desire and a responsibility - to expose them.

In high school, I learned the basics of photography from Mr. Murphy the arts teacher. I remember being drawn to photographing people and considered everything else merely 'composition'. In art school a couple years later, I composed portraits only. The strange thing about it is, I never questioned - why only portraits? - and didn't even realize it until years later.

Anthony Manicone II
It doesn't matter what type of camera is used. These were taken with my cell phone. ...click here...