I am an artist. An artist possesses a unique soul. They see the world differently. But more than that, an artist feels a deep desire, a calling to invite others into that world. An artist is driven by the pursuit of shared vision: to allow others to see, feel, and experience life as they do. To accomplish this, they choose a medium. That medium may be music, writing, painting, sculpting, or countless other forms. Whatever the choice, it becomes the […]

When you are a starving art student attending college in a big city, the housing is questionable at best. The second place I rented was better than the first. Mainly because of my roommate, who would eventually become a lifelong friend. The housing itself, however, was still filled with fringe personalities. We called ourselves the “Georgites,” because we all rented from the same landlord: George. He would rent to anyone willing to accept the accommodations he offered. Including a garage […]

We have all heard about it. Some people hope to pass on that way. But when it happens at a time that you are not ready to move on, you fight against it. At least I did. We have all heard about it. Some people hope to pass on that way. But when it happens at a time that you are not ready to move on, you fight against it. At least I did. The autonomic nervous system is designed […]

Did I cause the death of a Korean worker?   I may never know. This assignment was a shoot for POSCO Steel. One of the largest steel manufacturers in Korea, and in the world. The flight to Korea was uneventful, and the welcome we received upon landing was warm and generous. It was my second of what would eventually become many trips to the country, and Korea was already beginning to feel like a second home. Still, I was learning about […]

BTW _ am am teaching in person classes on how you can get beautiful shots with your own iPhone. Special discount from my friends in the Yuba/Sutter area. With the hands on classes at my studio in Marysville.   See samples:  https://melphoto.com/portfolios/iphone-fun/ https://melphoto.com/learn/

I had no plans to share this, but after a couple of weeks with unbelievable support, I have to share what my family has done for me. On July 15th I had a stroke. Specifically called Wallenberg Syndrome. I lost the ability to speak. The left side of my face had a noticeable droop. My entire left side was so disconnected that I could not walk at all. My throat had closed down, leaving me unable to eat or swallow. […]

18 ••••••••• • More than once I was contracted by a Foreign Ad agency to shoot projects in Korea. On one particular occasion the agency CEO invited me to a special dinner party at a government center in the heart of Seoul. The room was filled with notables of all types, Even Korea’s most popular female movie star. The group had a wonderful way of putting everyone on a level playing field and eliminating any hierarchy. Everyone sat at a […]

 •••••• Perhaps it’s a bit of a stretch to call it an argument. It really ended up being more of a sales pitch. Let me explain. Years ago, during the Dot Com boom, I was contracted to shoot portraits of the important founders, innovators and financial backers that sparked one of the most dynamic changes in history. The project gave me access to fascinating people—from Jeff Bezos to Jeff Yang. But one of the most memorable experiences came with Jim […]

 • • • • • Thought I would share this learning lesson from my past.  I call it “She Saw Sea Shells” 
When you’re an artist, you learn early on that once your work is out in the world, it no longer belongs to just you. It becomes a mirror—distorted, clear, or even absurd—of whoever’s standing in front of it.

Years ago, in a small gallery in Palo Alto, I learned this truth the hard way. Or perhaps the most entertaining […]

• • • • • So yesterday I had the feeding tube removed. The doctor told me that with this type of tube, all he had to do was yank it out, as he went through the hand motions. He asked, “are you ready?” I said “not after you just showed me that.” Then he placed one hand firmly on my stomach, the other hand grabbed the tube, and he yanked as hard and as fast as he could. It […]