I took my first photos in the 1970s and 1980s while growing up in lower Manhattan following in the footsteps of a mother who always documented the lives of her children. After college in upstate New York State and several years of newspaper photography in New Jersey and Connecticut, I embarked for the West Coast to work on staff in San Diego, California in the mid-1990s. After 22 years at the Union-Tribune, my curiosity led me to learn all I could about the nascent drone industry, inspecting utilities, teaching others and working with Chula Vista Police Department on their drone surveillance system acquiring flight hours and critical experience, and continuing as a freelance visual specialist, taking still photos and creating documentaries for clients. I've been fortunate to have my images appear in National Geographic, LIFE, Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press, Paris-Match, Stern and local Southern California TV broadcasts.  

Collaboration is at the heart of my mission. Preconception is great, but preconceived notions are not.  "Let's do it together. Let's plan the shoot, discuss the possibilities, try out locations, time of day or night, situations, props and poses. Endless options make for better photos. I plan extensively, offer suggestions, yet go with the flow to make memorable images and video." John