Garry Winogrand
Garry's passion, like Mary Ellen Mark is what I have tried to emulate over the years. I will never achieve their level of passion but they are both good models to follow. His connection with people on the street has been truly inspiring.
Manuel Alvarez Bravo 1983
This meeting ranks high on my list of great honors. I was able to spend half a day with Mr. Bravo at which time, after reviewing my work, he purchased two prints. I hated to cash this check as it had his signature on it.
Neal Slavin, Barbara Crane
Marion Patterson, Ansel Adams, John Sexton
Neal Slavin was the first major photographer to take a personal interest in my work and go out of his way to help me. Although I did not spend a great deal of time with him, I am surprised how much I have acknowledged his influence over the years.
Marion Patterson
Marion had great insight and I still find her thought provoking comments come to mind whenever I get frustrated or disappointed. She was one of Ansel's pseudo-adopted kids.
Henry Gilpen
Here in Henrys home, one of many times he was showing prints to my students. Henry was one of the first to exchange prints with me. Dawna and I have always appreciated his and Doris' friendship.
Eileen Cowin 1984
Taken while a grad student CSUF. What I valued most about Eileen was her passion and unique way to conceptualize her ideas.
Cole Weston
Dawna and I became friends with Cole and I must say the greatest thing we enjoyed about Cole was his great story telling.
Barbara Crane, Ansel Adams, Marion Patterson and Don Worth
Barbara Crane and Don Worth were two photographers whose influence was felt more in the classroom rather than in my photographs . . . they were a great encouragement to my work.
Myself and Robert Routh (Monterey Workshop) 1981
I credit Bob for helping me become a teacher. He saw something in me and relentlessly pursued my interest in teaching. This workshop was but one of those times when we teamed together to teach a workshop. My guess is he was observing and gaining more ammo to entice me into teaching. He became an important mentor and later my best friend. I miss him dearly.
David Drake
John Charles Woods
John Sexton
Mary Ellen Mark 2009
No question Mary Ellens work has had an impact on my photography; even though our styles are not much alike. I have shown her work to my students more than any other photographer. Especially my favorite book of hers, Ward 81.
Ansel Adams 1982
Here Ansel was talking to a group of us about the zone system. One more of those influential photographers with respect to my work quality and attitude.
Ray McSavaney
Ray is Dawna and my long time friend. We conducted workshops together, photographed two projects together, critiqued each other's work and discussed life, philosophy and art until we couldn't stand it any longer. After shooting we'd go to McDonalds and scarf on nasty old burgers, complaining that if we kept eating these we'd not see age 50, boy how wrong we were about that. He is a friend to whom I owe much.
David Drake, my first mentor, and a teacher I most wanted to be like . . . he is also greatly missed by many of us. John Sexton and John Charles Woods were two of my very good friends in Cypress College, where we all enjoyed David Drake's teaching, direction, and encouragement. Both of the John's I credit as they patiently worked and helped me understand the Ansel Adams zone system. They also taught me about passion, not just of photography but putting quality into everything you put your heart to - - a special thanks to them.
Darryl Curran, Vida Freeman, Jimmi Jenkins
My Grad committee at CSUF - - a great team, I learned much from them and appreciate their guidance.
Influence, an interesting and important word, to me; to be affected by others, to grow, learn and be engaged. I frequently thank God for influences, for those that instigate within me, learning. I am thankful to be friends with those which I have learned much from and continue to be humbled by professionals and students alike; those I have come in contact with over the past thirty-five years. Below are just a few. But I add that I have valued the students in my past greatly and realize they likely have had the most profound influence in my career.
