I've been approached to do an art show this summer (I know, I can't believe it either).  Getting ready has been an undertaking but I'm almost there.  Part of the requirement is writing a biography, which has been awful.  If it could be fictitious, it could be a lot of fun.  The truth is unfortunately boring and involves a lot more self reflection than I've ever wanted to do.  But I've wrote this tonight and thought, why not share it on deviantart?  Feedback is always a good thing.  So, if your curious, here it is.  

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How I found my way into photography was completely backwards and quite by chance.  I've been doing it for around two years now but its only this last year that I've taken a keen interest and fallen in love.  

I was born in Nakusp in 1981 and had the good fortune of getting a family computer by the age of 8.  We've been married ever since.  I started writing DOS programs and hacks by age 10.  By age 12 using the poorly guarded high school computer labs was an exercise in restraint, which I didn't always win, and was very nearly expelled on a couple occasions.   

In 1999 I graduated and went to the University of Victoria.  I took terribly dry, boring courses and spent my time in the computer lab designing webpages and failing math.  The following summer I completely destroyed my knee and spent 14 of the next 36 months on crutches.  I would like to thank my mother for saving me during this horrible time.  After I was recovered I went skiing (because that's the kind of willful and boneheaded person I am) for three years.  

Finding myself broke, I took three jobs and worked 80 hours a week for the better part of a year.  At some point during this time I discovered Ebay.  After a few minutes of restraint I rationalized the purchase of all the tools I'd always wanted (plus a ridiculous number of black metal t-shirts).  I bought a new computer, the photoshop masters suite, and an SLR digital camera.  In my spare time I taught myself  every graphics programs I could find.  I never had a monetary purpose in mind, it was just something I'd always wanted to do.  I had my camera, but early results were discouraging.  No friends or family had an interest in photography, and to be honest I had no idea what I was doing.  At least, thanks to Ebay, I looked good doing it.

In 2008 my paths crossed with Ed Chernoff in the strangest of circumstances.  My mother and her co-workers were planning a YMCA performance with re-written lyrics.  Poetry is another one of my hobbies and when my mom asked me to proof-read their lyrics I decided to help them out;  because they were, well... bad.  She had saved my life, I would try and save her from dying of embarrassment.  I thought manipulating a photo of the original YMCA group by airbrushing in the faces of all the participants would be a funny prop.  They loved it and used it in their performance.  Unknown to me, one of the participants husband was a professional photographer who saw my work and was impressed enough (or desperate enough) to call me.  Either way he approached me to retouch grad photos and I've been working with him ever since.  He is a fantastic photographer and I've been very, very lucky to have his support.

I like to push my photos and use modern techniques to get the most out of my camera.  I'm an endless experimenter, trying every kind of photography and digital art I can.  Like my taste in music I look at every genre of art, and am inspired by each.  My two favorite photographers are Gilad Benari and Marc Adamus and I love the works of digital artists like Vitaly Alexius and Marianna Britto.  Ultimately my favorite thing to photograph is landscapes.  Its a great excuse to get out and explore and we are blessed to live in such a beautiful area.  Landscape photography is as challenging as anything I've ever done, an exercise in patience and discipline and creativity.  It combines so many elements I love and struggle with that it represents what photography is for me, a beautiful struggle.  

I hope you enjoy my work as much as I've enjoyed creating it.

Lee