Holiday Open Studio Featuring “MILES to GO” Photographs from the new Route 66 book

In addition, for viewing and purchase, over 150 prints ranging from 8×8 wood panel prints to massive 20×40 metal prints I’ve created over 18 years of photographing Route 66 will be on display.

Love Cleveland Art? Come check out my cityscapes of Cleveland, Guardians of Transportation series, and fine art collection of infrared black & white series “Romantic Images of Wade Lagoon.”

In the roots of my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, you will find me on assignment for magazines telling visually engaging stories about places, capturing unique personalities, and teaming up with businesses and institutions to strengthen their marketing efforts. I also work with individuals to elevate their stories through headshots, environmental portraits, and personal branding from my studio in Lakewood Ohio.

One of my true passions is photographing Americana and Route 66. This interest was ignited when I took an unforgettable road trip on Route 66 back in 2004 just after completing my formal photography education. Since that defining trip, I’ve been working with ‘mom and pop’ businesses to tell their stories and promote them. I regularly work on assignment for tourism and visitors bureaus to showcase Route 66 communities, and alongside leading non-profits, including the Road Ahead Partnership, to highlight Route 66 and bring it back to its deserved glory. I’ve also been a part of ROUTE magazine since its inception over 3 years ago and have since graduated to Director of Photography and Lead Editorial Photographer of the publication. Back home in Cleveland, I’ve shown my Route 66 art in my own gallery and local museums to folks that wonder about Route 66, piquing their interest and growing a larger audience for the road. My journey is more than I could have ever fathomed and I’m so very grateful for it.

When I’m not behind the lens, I love spending my time road-tripping, hiking, camping, sailing, working on home improvement projects, grooving to live music, sitting around a fire with friends sharing stories, and savoring meaningful moments with my family, Shannon, Vivian, and Reed.

Artist statement for The Route 66 body of work.

What lures a photographer from his commercial & editorial work along the picturesque shores of Lake Erie to a starting point over 300 miles away, then further along the 2400-mile memory that is America’s legendary Route 66? What draws him to pursue the beauty of a fading past and to gain awareness of what we’ve lost but might still regain?

I dig the slower pace. It causes me to slow down to the speed of life I prefer. It’s a road full of people still embracing what was pure about America in the early and mid-20th century. Folks are friendly, actually downright welcoming, and have time to tell a good yarn or twenty! So many people still embrace what was pure about America in the early and mid-20th century. I enjoy the stories, encouragement, and life lessons they share. They are my friends, and they inspire me. Some of them, too, follow a dream. Others, carrying a torch, are all so authentic! I’m comfortable here!

I thoroughly enjoy traveling that old highway, double six, to create photographs documenting its colorful past. I focus my heart and lens on the promise of a road representing the last great American adventure!

I seek to spread the word about Route 66 to the citizens of this nation that don’t even realize it runs through their town, to the people of foreign lands that dream of someday traveling the world’s most famous highway to experience the America of yesteryear that is still here. My friendly advice for those seeking road trip adventure?

“Get off the super slab of the interstate! Roll the old two-lane, through the breadbasket, over the hills, into the urban cityscapes, round the curves, over the pass, and across the lonesome desert to reach the promised land. Finally, landing at the pier to bask in the cool breeze and warm setting sun over the Pacific. And, of course, stop and meet the people along the way!”