From the Publisher
How long have you been photographing nature in New Jersey? A:
Since I was a child. I received my first camera, a Kodak instamatic, from my parents when I was eight or nine years old. I immediately went about taking some absolutely horrible photos of squirrels, birds, the dog and the cats, the usual stuff. Later that day we went up to my family's summer house and I remember finishing the roll with a shot of some pileated woodpecker holes in a dead tree and another shot of the lake and mountain with a split rail fence in the foreground - my first landscape. That was the only shot on the roll that looked nice. The light was good and the image, as I remember it, was well composed. I treasured the photo for years after that. It has since disappeared. During college, I received a 35 mm, again from my parents. That's when I began to show some real interest in nature photography. Q:
When did you begin taking the photos in this book? A:
I think the earliest image in the book dates from November of 1986 - the close-up of sand and shadows from a fence at Island Beach. Q:
Why did you decide to turn these photos into a book? A:
For a number of reasons. I've had a great deal of success selling large prints through galleries and exhibits. Exposure to the public was still somewhat limited, however. This book is the perfect way to make the images more accessible to a wider audience. It also seemed like the logical "next step" for me. Q:
How did you decide what photos to put in the book? A:
This was a difficult one. I've accumulated a pretty large body of work from New Jersey. I spent quite a few late nights at the light box editing and compiling images. My biggest challenge was finding shots that not only represented accurately the natural landscapes of each region of the state, but that would complement each other, especially when presented together. Q:
Do you have a favorite photo in the book? Where was it taken and why is it your favorite? A:
I'm not sure if there is any single image that I would consider my favorite. I'm pretty happy with most of the photos. The Terrace Pond sunset seems to intrigue a lot of people, so I guess it's a successful image. I like the cover shot (VanCampen Brook). Someone once said that it looked like Hawaii or someplace like that. He couldn't believe it was New Jersey - that's precisely the response that I'm after - amazement. I'm very happy with Fox Prints, Island Beach. It's a good composition and it tells a story. The opening shot turned out nicely as well (Water Detail, Dunfield Creek). This sort of "rocks underwater" thing has been done a thousand times, but I'm still very happy with the way it turned out, it's a nice composition. I've yet to enlarge this one, but I'm sure it will look good on someone's wall someday. I think the little black and white shot of the ice patterns in the Piedmont section is a nice image also. Q:
What's your favorite place to photograph in New Jersey? A:
That's a tough question. Every region has something to offer, and they're all pretty awesome. I think for sentimental reasons, though, it would have to be the Highlands. I've been going there regularly all my life, and my family has been there, on the same piece of land for five generations. I feel a real connection to the landscape, and I think that makes for a more emotional approach to photography. Q:
You mention composition a lot. Do you think this is what makes a good photo? Or are equipment, technical know-how, and subject matter just as important? A:
Composition is everything. Of course, you need to know the basics. And it would be nice to have $20,000 dollars worth of equipment and Bryce Canyon as a back yard. But I still believe that composition comes first. I had a friend in college who did her senior project with a Diana camera - a cheap plastic camera with plastic lenses that costs under two dollars. She sealed up the light leaks with electrical tape and went out shooting the local cornfields. Her images were not technically perfect, naturally, but they certainly conveyed a mood, and proved that you don't need the best equipment and the most dramatic subjects to make a good picture. Q:
What type of photographic equipment do you generally use? A:
I have two Pentax medium format cameras - 645 and a 6x7, each with a wide angle, a standard, and a telephoto lens. The optics are great and, although they've been banged around a lot, they're holding up nicely. I use polarizing filters from time to time and on several occasions I've used a warming filter and a split neutral density filter. I have two Bogen tripods - a small one for over-night trips and a larger one for day trips, and a very heavy Lowe Pro Photo Trekker camera pack. Q:
How do people react when you tell them you've done a book of nature photos of New Jersey? A:
Some people, the outdoorsy types especially, are totally psyched. They think it's about time people see what New Jersey is really like. Other responses are different. When told of this project recently, someone apparently responded with surprise - something like "New Jersey? Why would anyone want to do a book about New Jersey?" These are just the sort of people that need this book. People who would rather go to the mall than be outside on a beautiful day. People who have lost touch with nature. These people vote and that scares me.
