I started photographing at age 13 when I inherited a Yashica 126 camera after my grandfather passed away. A shy, introverted boy was suddenly transformed into a powerful sorcerer. It was sheer magic, I was empowered by this gift. With this magic wand, just a little downward press of my finger allowed me to capture any subject or event. It is this sense of magic that was the core of my initial attraction to photography. From there I attended college at the Fashion Institute of Technology and have been taking pictures ever since.
Over twenty years ago my family moved to Staten Island. I have been photographing the landscapes all this time. With these landscape and nature photographs of the natural areas of Staten Island, I’ve tried to show the raw beauty and mystery of these still untouched areas. It is my sincere hope that one person, old or young will say, “Where is this? I would like to take a walk in this area.” My belief is that it all starts with one person who says, “This is a beautiful, natural area worth protecting and saving. I’m going to do everything within my power to protect it and show it to others.” In the last two decades the population on Staten Island has tripled. We have built houses and shopping centers where precious woods and meadows once stood. Who knows how many townhouses will be squeezed into the next woods. Camp Pouch, which sits dead center in the Greenbelt and contains Ohrbach’s Lake is threatened to be sold to builders.
Now is the time to form a chain from this generation to a new one that that will protect and save our precious natural areas.