tell us a bit about you and where you are from?

I'm a licensed architect living in Bend Oregon who's married and has two kids. I've always considered photography more as a hobby, but I've sold stock images online for the last nine years and have been a board member of a local camera club for the last two years.

how and when did you get interested in photography?

While attending the University of Oregon's Architecture program (mid to late late 1990's), I loved doing graphic design and messing with scanned photos in Photoshop. When the quality of digital photography started getting better, my interest in photography grew. I've had a website (in some form or another) since 1995, and always loved putting images up. In 2003 I started my blog and participated in several weekly photo themes. While I was clueless in regards to the traditional darkroom, Photoshop didn't intimidate me one bit and I found that I was able to improve my photos in the digital darkroom. That was major inspiration for me. I continued to buy point-n-shoot digital cameras as they improved until 2008 when I purchased my first DSLR.

which photographers works do you like?

I love the work of architectural photographer Julius Shulman. He really understood the beauty of the built environment and captured it well. Joe McNally is another photographer who really blows me away with his work.

your favorite photobloggers that you follow?

I can easily say that if it wasn't for David Hobby and his strobist site, I probably wouldn't have purchased my DSLR when I did. Why did I purchase it? I knew I wanted to take photos with off-camera flash!

Other favorites (mostly through strobist) include Zack Arias, Chase Jarvis, David Ziser, Bert Stephani, Scott Kelby, Drew Gardner and Natalie Dybisz (Miss Aniela).

what kind of equipment do you use?

• Camera: Canon Rebel XSI.
• Lenses: Canon 18-55mm, 50-250mm, 50mm f1.8, 100mm f2, & Sigma 10-20mm
• Flashes: Canon 580ex II, (2) Lumopro 160
• Wireless Triggers: Radio Popper JRX's
• Lot's of lighting gear (Soft boxes, umbrella, Rogue Flashbenders, light stands, etc...

do you have any formal training?

No formal photography training. Self taught.

do you use software to touch up photos? what do you use?

My typical work flow starts in Canon's Digital Photo Professional for RAW conversion. Then to Photoshop where I use some actions and filters to get the look I'm after. Typically I use actions from Totally Rad! and some from The Pioneer Woman. Nik software's Silver Efex Pro and Sharpener Pro are used often too.

what are two of your favorite photos that you have taken? urls?

The first is one my wife and I took for our "Save The Date" cards. I only had started my off-camera photography when I took this.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10595840@N00/3727660373/in/set-72157621454964477/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10595840@N00/3193775064/in/set-72157612510847514/

what kind of pictures do you love to take?

My wife and I had a new baby in December of 2009. Last year I started taking a daily photo of him for a 365 day project. However, these aren't typical baby photos. This page sums it up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10595840@N00/sets/72157622994042353/

what inspires you?

Creative lighting in photography.

where do you want to take your photography? publishing a book?

I'd like to continue to grow my stock sales as well as take on some jobs doing environmental portraiture.

what else would you like to tell us?

Passion and creativity can't be faked. You either have it or you don't. I feel like I have both and that's what brings me enjoyment in photography.

http://www.monkeyinabox.net