What He Does: "I'm a ship pilot. I go down to the port, get on a ship and maneuver her away from a dock and out to sea, then I bring one back in. Sort of a specialized ship captain just for Houston. I carry my camera to work and take photos when I can. As a pilot, I look at the ship channel to see current, wind, weather, traffic and to make sure my ship is in the right place. As a photographer, I add to that an awareness of color, texture, and light. The pilot in me looks for situations that might cause a problem - will I be overtaking a tow in a narrow spot? The photographer watches the changing arrangement of light, reflection, and motion as, for example, a tow becomes framed by sunlight on the water or a ship moves between me and a developing thundercloud.
"I've been fortunate that people like my photos and I've been able to contribute to an awareness of shipping and the port as something other than the dark secret east of the city. I'd like to see the port be more a part of the culture of the city. We're not really known as a seaport even though we have a lot more traffic than better known ports like L.A., New York or San Francisco."
Why He Likes It: "Like all art it expands my world. [And] I like the learning experience. Every year I look back and think how dumb I was last year about some things and that's great. That might be a secret of mental youth: to be always on a learning curve. Art does that.
What Inspires Him: "The port itself is an inspiration. It's so big and such a rich environment for grand images. I think anyone who has spent time there has seen things they remember all their lives. Photography is a way of freezing those moments.
"Other photographers [inspire me, too]. I see images every day that make me want to do better.
If Not This, Then What: "Writing. When I was younger I wanted to write the great American novel."
If Not Here, Then Where: "I love Houston. It's such a great place for opportunity and the people here are the best I've known anywhere. That said, my wife is from Cartagena, Colombia. We met in the U.S. and she took me back to here home town for a visit that lasted four years. It's the place where magical realism intersects with reality. We have begun spending more time in Cartagena recently."
What's Next: "Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the modern port. I'd like to participate in an exhibit somewhere in Houston to help celebrate.
"I've been contacted about participating in a book project about the port. My friend Anita Jaisinghani of Indika and Pondicheri is working on a cookbook/memoir and she wants me to do the photography; not just food, but photos from India as well. That will be a new learning curve.
"I've been learning to print my own work, something I should have done long ago. Beyond that I'd like to work on some other Houston projects. The city has an amazing tree canopy. I'd like to find a good way to develop that theme. And then there's Cartagena - another rich subject for a photographer."
More Creatives for 2013 (In order of most recently published; click here for the full page).
Sara Gaston, stage and screen star Rachael Pavlik, a writer mom Ana Villaronga-Roman, Katy Contemporary Arts Museum director Erin Wasmund, actor, singer and dancer Karim Al-Zand, composer Jan Burandt, paper conservator for The Menil Collection Deke Anderson, actor Craig Cohen, hockey fan and host of Houston Matters Mauro Luna, Poe-Inspired photographer Trond Saeverud, Galveston Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor Khrystyna Balushka, paper flower child Christina Carfora, visual artist and world traveler Sara Kumar, artistic director for Shunya Theatre Kiki Maroon, burlesque clown Gin Martini, fashion designer Lacey Crawford, painter and sculptor Homer Starkey, novelist Jenn Fox, mixed media Shohei Iwahama, dancer Erica DelGardo, metalsmith Bob Clark, executive director Houston Family Arts Center Kerrelyn Sparks, bestselling romance author Lindsay Halpin, punk rock mad hatter Drake Simpson, actor Shelby Carter, Playboy model turned photographer David Matranga, actor Crystal Belcher, pole dancer Daniel Kramer, photographer Blue 130, pin-up explosion art Nina Godiwalla, author and TED speaker David Wilhem, light painter Tom Abrahams, author and newscaster Browncoat, pin-up pop artist Kris Becker, Nu-Classical composer and pianist Vincent Fink, science fashion Stephanie Saint Sanchez, Senorita Cinema founder Ned Gayle, thrift store painting defacer Sameera Faridi, fashion designer Greg Ruhe, The Human Puppet Sophia L. Torres, founder and co-artistic director of Psophonia Dance Company Maggie Lasher, dance professor and artistic director Jordan Jaffe, founder of Black Lab Theatre Outspoken Bean, performance poet Barry Moore, architect Josh Montoute, mobile gaming specialist Ty Doran, young actor Gwen Zepeda, Houston's first Poet Laureate Joseph Walsh, principal dancer at Houston Ballet Justin Garcia, artist Buck Ross, dilettante and director of Moores Opera Center Patrick Renner, sculptor of the abstract and the esoteric Tomas Glass, abstract artist and True Blood musician Ashley Stoker, painter, photographer and Tumblr muse Amy Llanes, artistic airector of Rednerrus Feil Dance Company Bevin Bering Dubrowski, executive director at the Houston Center for Photography Lydia Hance, founder and director of Frame Dance Productions Piyali Sen Dasgupta, mixed media artist and nature lover Dean James, New York Times bestselling mystery novelist Nicola Parente, abstract painter and photographer Cheryl Schulke, handmade leather pursemaker Anthony Rathbun, Alternative Lifestyle Photographer David Salinas, computer-less analog photographer Danielle Burns, art curator Alicia DiRago, Whimseybox founder Katia Zavistovski, contemporary art curator Ashley Horn, choreographer, filmmaker Amanda Stevens, scary book author Peter Lucas, film and video curator, music lover and self-described culture-slinger Ana MarÃa Otamendi, collaborative pianist and vocal coach Billy D. Washington, comedian Michele Brangwen, choreographer and dancer Kristin Warren, actress and choreographer Kelly Sears, animator and film maker Colton Berry, Bayou City Theatrics' artistic director jhon r. stronks,dance-maker Joe Grisaffi, actor, director, writer, cinematographer
