Give us a little history on how you started?
I really came to Chicago to pursue a career as a physical therapist. I was a certified nurses aid, and wanted to further that career. I never dreamed that I would get a bachelors degree and be a photographer. I always had a love for photography.

What you've accomplished in 19 years?
I achieved a buisness of the year award in 2000. I have been published in several books and magazines, including working as staff photographer at Gay Chicago for many years. I have met many wonderful people. My show at Las Manos will show that, I have over 100 images on the wall alone. New Orleans is a short flight, and I hope I see lots of familiar faces once I am there.

What has been most memorable for you?
I started out doing documentary photography. I covered a lot of homeless in Chicago. In the late 80's there was alot of problems in Emerald City (lower Wacker Drive). The fire department had actually hosed down people living on the loading areas in the middle of winter. Another time, a man was found dead after being nawed at by rats in a empty building on Malden. That corner is now condos.

What has prompted you to move on?
The move to New Orleans has been a well thought out deciscion. Anyone that knows me, knows that I have been talking about moving. One of my clients friend has a place for rent, and it is in a artists area. I love Chicago, but it does not embrace the arts as well as it should. We have some of the best museums and art schools in the country. My artists friends, as well as myself really struggle. People expect alot for nothing. It costs money to have a space in this city. New Orleans allows artists to sell their work on the streets, without a storefront or a gallery to showcase talent.

Chicago is pretty conservitive also. I can not believe the comments of my show invite - a drag queen with 3 squirting boobs, but we can have a handful of images of Iraqi prisoners crammed down our throat, and people are saying more please. Maybe I should say the whole country is pretty conservative, not just Chicago.