I photograph places — and teach people how to see them

I live and work on the Central Coast, where the pace, the light, and the landscape naturally shape how I see and teach photography.

Scapes of Art isn’t just a gallery — it’s where conversations, learning, and making happen.

A river flowing through a forest with the sun shining through tall trees, creating a misty reflection on the water.

A man crouching on the grass by a river, looking through a camera mounted on a tripod, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, blue shirt, and jeans, with trees and mountains visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Photography matters to me because it teaches you how to see.

Not just frames and settings, but light, timing, and the small moments most people walk past. A camera slows you down. It asks you to pay attention — to what’s actually in front of you, not what you expected to find.

Over the years, photography has shaped how I move through the world. It’s helped me notice patterns, read light, and stay curious. Long before it became work, it became a way of understanding place, people, and moments that don’t repeat.

Most beginners don’t struggle because they lack talent.

They struggle because photography is often taught as a set of rules, jargon, and assumptions — with very little explanation of why things work. Too often, learning feels like gatekeeping instead of guidance.

I’ve seen this again and again while teaching. People don’t need more gear, more presets, or more opinions. They need clear explanations, practical examples, and the confidence to experiment without feeling like they’re doing it wrong.

Good education doesn’t overwhelm — it removes friction.

Photography is simple at its core. Light enters a camera, gets controlled, and is recorded. When that foundation is understood, everything else becomes easier to learn.

My approach to education is about stripping things back. Fewer rules. Less noise. More understanding. Whether online or in person, the goal is the same: help people connect what their camera is doing with what they’re seeing, so learning feels practical, not intimidating.

Much of this work happens on the Central Coast, where changing light, coastal landscapes, and real-world conditions make photography feel immediate and grounded.

Through Scapes of Art Gallery, education becomes something shared — hands-on, conversational, and rooted in place rather than theory alone.