I love to drop down into the middle of daily life in places very different from my own home country, just to take a good long look. Over the past 20 years I’ve traveled throughout Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Vietnam, India, and most recently, Ghana.

Travel provides me with unexpected insights. At first, it’s easy to see that things are not the same as they are back home. Soon I begin to perceive the remarkable sameness that links us all. What country on earth doesn’t have mischievous kids, cool teenagers, distinguished elders, colorful food markets, and barbershops? People all over the world have jobs or worry about not having them, trade gossip around the water cooler (or the village water pump), and carry their groceries in plastic bags (or in baskets on their heads). We all try to make our guests feel welcome with a cup of fresh coffee (or yak-butter tea). We all want to be loved and treated with dignity and respect.

I like learning about the life of a place through chance encounters with the folks who live there, instead of through tour guides or textbooks. I’ve never seen the Taj Mahal, but no matter: I’ve seen polka-dotted bulls, and taxis festooned with hand-painted portraits of Indian movie stars. That’s my idea of fun!

Before photographing people or their property I always ask permission, and I don’t try to cajole anyone into changing their mind if they’ve refused. No means no! People and their lives are colorful, to be sure, but I resist the notion that people in foreign countries are “local color.” I think heartfelt respect fosters peace in a powerful way, and I hope this comes across in my photographs.



About the photographs

These are digital photographs, printed on an Epson Stylus Photo 2200 printer using Epson Ultrachrome pigment inks on archival matte paper. The prints have a lightfast rating of 76 to 155 years, when displayed under glass or UV glass, respectively.

Image 6 x 9
Matted to 11 x 14 $125
Framed $195

Image approx 11 x 14
Matted to 16 x 20 $225
Framed $325

Larger prints available, contact gallery for sizes and prices