Behind the Camera...

If you've viewed the Gallery, you noticed my interests run the gamut with photographic subjects. That's how it's been since I started shooting 8 or so years ago, and it remains the same simply because I'm drawn to capture whatever catches my eye.

So what's "focus97"? It's a genesis -- 1997 was the first year I began to actively focus on pursuing a passionate life. The year marked a dramatic shift in focus towards academic pursuits, and it was shortly after that I began carrying a camera with me everywhere.

Since I began sharing and selling my photographs with people across the internet, the quantity and diversity of commissioned projects has grown steadily and rapidly. I'm always thankful for that. What an amazing thing it is to have a love for capturing, and to also have others who love what I capture.

Since 1997, I’ve spent a good deal of my life trying to do too much. And it’s probably going to get worse, which is great. Being driven to do something is enlivening.

Creatively, my projects also run the gamut -- from code-technical HTML and Flash design, to basic and uncluttered marketing collateral. So long as I get to use creativity and design tools, I'm game.

My love for photography motivates me to view the world in compositions. It is part therapy and part livelihood. Rock-climbing is certainly something else I can’t live without. Something about the chalk and beautiful scenery.... My greatest passion is to help, though, and it’s what motivates me to pursue a career in medicine. Varied adventures and interactions comprise the kind of experience that will lend itself to empathy, compassion, and better connections with my future patients.

Thanks for visiting...   -ml.