Artist Statement

Someone said “A picture is worth a thousand words.” I was told to keep it to 250... Fine, I suppose I’ll get to work.

I’m new to this “game,” make no mistake, I know this is serious business…but I understand a certain amount of gamesmanship is required. My business card says, “Technical Photos with Artistic Flair.” But what does that even mean? To the casual viewer, perhaps I simply make aesthetically pleasing images. To the person more likely reading this, perhaps I’m expected to communicate something beyond ink on paper: an idea, an emotion, a political commentary.

I am not limited to one or the other.

I shoot (pun intended) to get my viewer to ask something. I aim to invite them in. I don’t always have answers, but occasionally my work may answer something the observer never thought to ask.

My firm stance is that “Art” is the intentional use or misuse of foundational rules to create an emotional response. I am a Soldier, an Engineer and an Artist. That last title is difficult for me to admit to myself. It competes with my self-imposed engineering persona, an alleged antithesis to the artist. But my camera wouldn’t exist without a lineage of engineers before me.

My work thus far is a journey of luck, learning, and most recently, articulable intent. I recognize my formal beginning while wearing the uniform, defending freedom and the American way of life, in Lithuania in 2022. But perhaps it started before then.

And that was 224 words.