History, Community and Story Telling It all started in Caracas, Venezuela with a guy named Reggie Pearman in the late 60's. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer. What he was doing in-country for the organization, I don't remember. What I do remember is that every time he came over to the house to have dinner with my folks, he always brought along an old Nikon F. Discussing Peace Corps business, Reggie always handed me his miracle "picture maker". He knew and understood my fascination with my "new love", photography. With just the camera itself, no manuals or education I had lots of questions. He always kindly answered between other questions and answers about the future of a third world country. Man, I loved that time. I wish I knew where Reggie was, because I would like him to see me now... My first real camera came on Christmas day in Washington D.C. between overseas assignments: a Nikkormat FTN . I tinkered with backlit pictures of sculptures made of glued shards of broken window glass. What kind of start is that? A year or so later, during my senior year at Colegio Nueva Granada in Bogota, Colombia, I used the FTN to take all but a handful of the yearbook pictures. I cut class with impunity; I was already doing what I loved most. A Dutch ex-pat living in Colombia became a family friend. She too was a photographer. More inspiration and development. My experiments with polarization earned me a double page spread in a Dutch photo magazine. Cheers Marlies, you helped me on my way. The Associated Press where I worked part time, helped pay for college. During the day, I studied journalism and business. The most valuable part of my education was what I learned at night. An experienced freelancer once showed me how to illuminate a wide-shot of a car crash by leaving the camera shutter open on a tripod, while "painting" the scene by walking around firing the strobe multiple times. My first real job interview was at an NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City. It was a disaster! I showed up with only a still portfolio and a 100' black and white reel that I had shot in college. During my interview, the Chief Photographer was summoned out to a house fire. With great haste, he apologized and left me wondering what kind of impression I'd made in ten minutes. It was a good 9 months later that he approached me on my fork lift at a local lumber yard and ask if I was "still interested in that job?" After so many interviews, I wasn't sure who this man was or what job he was talking about. I had the good sense to blurt out YES, with a big smile on my face. I worked long and hard there. Learning as much as I could. A solid foundation was laid. Thank you KUTV! A move to Burbank, CA with NBC Network was the fine diamond hone that focused my abilities further. After 7 years there, NBC moved me to the new Denver Bureau. I found a place I could finally call home. Going freelance made it so I could meet and work with even more great people. Life is good and making good Images remains a combination of Eye, story telling, skill, hustle, History, memory, Community and experience... Chris, October 2008

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