Green Statement

Ninjas don’t leave footprints.

I have always been an avid recycler, freecycler, dumpster diver and lover of renewable energy. Forever a fan of earthships, art cars, bottle houses and garden junk, it would not make any sense for me to be a wasteful photographer. Photography does create waste, however…

Photographic paper and chemicals contain high levels of silver that are toxic to fish and must be disposed of properly. Using only professional labs ensures that waste is minimal and guidelines for silver disposal are followed to the letter. Consumer labs produce substandard prints with very little exception, creating even more garbage.  The prints you receive from me will be permanent, as good photographs should be.

Speaking of proofs, I do all proofing online unless you request otherwise. There is a serious drawback to doing things that way, because monitors display pictures very differently. What might look too light, too dark or washed out on your computer may actually print out quite differently. I ask that you trust my judgment and don’t order pictures based on your monitor’s display – order based on emotion. My lab will do an excellent job bringing it to life for you, I promise.

I don’t carry many sample wedding albums or a printed portfolio. Why? Well, there is just no way I will keep them forever. Every year my style is evolving and my favorite images are changing. Since I only use professional labs, the albums are professional quality. Professional quality means professional paper, rated to last 100+ years.

In addition to traveling light on samples, I drive light on my wheels in a small car. I do quite a bit of driving to create beautiful art so that is very important.

Of course I use Energy Star light bulbs and power off my devices when I’m not using them. I use a combination of rechargeable NiMH batteries and lithium batteries. I also haven’t eaten meat in 23 years, which has prevented the equivalent of more than 77,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere. Even the black background of this website (viewable at screen resolutions larger than 1024×768) is used to save energy.

Photography is not green, but I do it in the greenest way I can.