Much of my work as an artist involves finding settings that have potential, and actors that might play as yet unknown roles. Taking the actual photographs is a rather casual affair. Often I simply snap an image without even looking through the viewfinder. Composition comes later.
                                                                                             
I begin work on an image by 'turning on the lights' with color and contrast adjustments. I love bright, saturated colors and they set the mood I am looking for in my images. Since I am strongly interested in setting, I do a great deal to accentuate it. I stretch and distort perspective lines, set up contrasting or coordinating colors, and rearrange, add and subtract compositional elements.
                                                                                                                        
The magic happens when I insert an actor into the setting I've created. It's the interaction between the actor and the world he or she is in that brings the scene to life. From then on I simply let the work guide me to the final composition. I have reached my goal when the colors are right, the composition is balanced, the overall visual texture of the image is coherent, and the finished work presents a real sense of wonder and joy about being in the world.