Lighting the House Chamber with 25 flash units for the annual U.S. House of Representatives photo.
Lighting the UN's General Assembly prior to the annual address by the President of the United States
Documenting recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi, USA
About me
I am a communicator...
It may sound funny to say "I am a communicator" when I am not a person who is comfortable telling my story, but what the hell, let's give it a shot...
I grew up wanting to be an astronaut, watching the Apollo missions with rapt fascination. Looking at the world from a different angle as you would in space always intrigued me, that is, until my first algebra class. I learned that that math "wasn't my thang", and without the math, no engineering degree, no engineering degree, no space flight. So kicking around in Holland during my 8th grade year (my father was in the Air Force), trying to figure out how I wouldn't be just another tool to society in my later life, I happened upon a person with a Canon camera with a very long lens attached. Asking if I could look through the camera, the first image I saw through the viewfinder changed my life as I saw the world from a different angle. UREKA! Who needs to sit on top of a rocket, with a million pounds of highly volatile fuel, all built by the lowest bidder, when you had a camera with interchangeable lenses?
Finding a new way of viewing the world, I started to learn the basics from fellow hobbyists at the base photo hobby shop (where darkrooms were available for use). I had the chance to learn and appreciate how the quality of light can have a profound effect on the mood of a photograph, how composition is the creation of a visually compelling image and that the darkroom is part of the magic of photography, exciting, disappointing, rewarding and frustrating all in the same few moments. Pretty deep stuff for a 10th grader, I know, but how can you not love it, right?
With the mentoring and support of many, a lot of practice shooting and developing hundreds of rolls of film and learning from my many mistakes throughout my "early years", I decided early in high school to make a life's
decision to transition my love of photography from a hobby to a professional career as a U.S. Navy Photographer. The 26 year experience I had while in the service allowed me to photograph world leaders, major news stories, documentary and intelligence gathering assignments and to experience sights around the world that most people could only dream about (including photographing a Space Shuttle Launch at Cape Canaveral). One of the greatest joys is to see one's work published, presented and admired by your contemporaries, and this is what I experienced in the Navy. But as they say, all good things must come to an end and upon retirement, I started my own audio visual company, Alba Audiovisual (www.albaav.com) where my crew and I provide our dynamite clients all aspects of event production; lights, sound, stages, video projection, video production and of course, still photography (we are the rock stars behind the rock stars).
My love for the image is now over 40 years old, and I love to wake up each day and see what adventure will come my way. And yes, today I still carry my camera where ever I go and I try and let my love for the craft of photography to capture life moments. Moments of happiness, fun, friendship, beauty, etc. I would like those moments to last, to remember them and to share them with others.... And besides, you never know when NASA may want a skilled photographer to document life on the International Space Station...
Let's work together
Phone: 443-370-9689