Lyle Gomes, my Professor. I was blessed to learn and benefit from Lyle's guidance at the College of San Mateo, CA. I studied film and photography for two and a half years. Lyle is a true photographer and a great teacher. Lyle saw the direction that my early work was headed in, and he embraced it. Lyle worked with the Great Ansel Adams. During my time at CSM I developed my foundation. I used real film end to end, lab developing, hand printing, exposure, and tonality. It was the very DNA of photography of film. Lyle could see my early eye was craving portraiture and fashion. He embraced it by letting me continue to produce fine art black and white large prints with models and friends for my assignments when everyone else was creating mainly landscapes. He taught the science of light and the theory of composition, and as classes advanced, the language of Photography/Light Drawing. I never felt so free and fresh in my entire life. The creative world of image-making was just beginning for me, and if not for Lyle, I may not have stayed.
Roots
Lyle Gomes - Professor
Here, Lyle explains the view camera. Listen to how he teaches. I watch this video often when I need to ground myself. Anyone who had Lyle Gomes knows how cool this is!
Click on his image (above right) to see his beautiful work shown all over the world.
Vince Tarry - Mentor and Colleague
Vince hired me as a part-time assistant at Vince Tarry Photography, San Carlos, CA. From there, I grew into a full-time Photographer and editor-in-chief. It was not only a job but a life. I basically lived in that studio. We developed iClickSmiles, a sizeable upscale school portrait photography service serving Silicon Valley's biggest names. Vince was more than a mentor or boss. He's family. Through the ups and downs and the work we created over decades, it must be one of the largest bodies of work I know of. Factoring all of the studios, staff, and gigs. It would be hard-pressed to find any other collection of broken Canon camera shutter assemblies from sheer volume. One day, we would travel back from other states, photographing large portrait contracts, to the next day at Genentech with the biggest names in music, followed by a weekend wedding. And do it all over again come Monday. Vince was essential in teaching me how to make a living in photography and helped me develop the confidence and style to go out on my own and build three successful studios.
Michael Collopy
Michael shared a studio with us in San Carlos for a short time off and on. Michael is known all around the globe. He’s one of three photographers in the world to photograph Mother Teresa. His resume is impressive, Photographing world leaders, A-list actors, and gold medal Olympians. Yet he has no big ego, and if you called him today, he would go to lunch with you. Michael’s advice was vital during one of those transitional times in my life. I was ready to stop photographing boudoir and fashion completely. Everyone told me to either remove these genres from my portfolio or segregate them from my portfolios. He looked at my work and told me not to remove it. He mentioned that it was some of my best work and told me not to be ashamed but to embrace it, which worked out for the better. Michael was right. He taught me to highlight my best work despite what people say and mentioned that I could excel in that area. I listened intently to everything this man had to say. We were not in a competitive market. Pretty much anybody would be foolish not to listen to such a seasoned professional. He truly wanted to see the next generation do well. The kids I have trained in my time could honestly care less about what we had to say. And most are gone now. Check out this video below of Michael talking about being an artist.
Click on image for website
Michael Collopy: Advice to Aspiring Photographers & Artists
Found this little gem on YouTube.
Credit Goes to Ave Maria University