Born in Los Angeles in 1957, Brian has been taking pictures for over 47 years.
“Ever since I can remember, I have loved looking at photographs. Whether in books or magazines – Life, National Geographic and Geo were some of my favorites – I would spend hours pouring over them.”Brian caught the photo bug early at the age of 9. With his first camera in tow, a Kodak Hawkeye Instamatic, (now a part of his extensive photographic collection,) he spent his time during family vacations capturing the grandeur of sites such as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and other wonders of California and the Pacific Northwest. He loved taking pictures, but it was his dad, Dick, using his much more sophisticated Kodak Instamatic 500, who was his greatest inspiration. Dick would take his favorite photos from one of their many road trips, enlarge them, and hang them on the family room wall.Brian loved looking at those pictures and quickly learned how to use his father’s camera. His parents soon realized his passion for photography and gave him his first 35mm camera as a high school graduation gift. Brian’s initial interests were in fine art photographyand photojournalism, and his work could be seen in local art fairs and shows as well as in juried contests around the country.After studying photography and graphic design at El Camino College in Gardena, California, the Bezalel Academy of Art & Design in Jerusalem, Israel, and Otis/Parsons School of Art & Design in Los Angeles, Brian took a detour from his original interests and moved into the realm of commercial photography. He worked for several studios in various capacities, including assistant photographer, lab technician, graphic designer, and studio manager.
In 1987, Brian opened his first professional photo studio in Pasadena, and in 1992, incorporated as Public Works Productions, Inc., now located in Altadena, California, a 6000 square foot full service commercial photography and design studio. Public Works has done work for companies such as Westwood One Companies, Apple Computers, University of California Los Angeles, Kaiser Permanente, Nissan USA, Toyota USA, El Al Israel Airlines, Neutrogena, L.A. Eyeworks, Classic Custom Vacations, United Signature Foods, Pacific Asia Museum, and Brighton Collectibles.
Brian was an early adapter of the new digital technologies that were emerging in the early 1990’s. He had bought his first Apple Macintosh computer in 1985, and as the Macintosh and its software developed, it gradually became an integral part of the tools of his trade. After spending several years researching the possibilities of capturing an image digitally, Brian was asked to demonstrate the premier of the Leaf Digital Camera Back at the acclaimed international photographic trade show, Photokina, in Cologne, Germany, in 1992. Public Works became a leader in the field of digital commercial photography as one of the first of its kind in California and across the United States.
He has been a consultant to Leaf Systems, Scitex Inc., Mamiya America Corp., and SinarBron Imaging. Brian has also been a demonstrator and speaker at numerous trade shows, organizations and schools worldwide, and has consulted and provided training to a many individuals and companies in the areas of digital photography, computer hardware and software, and electronic design and imaging.
Never abandoning his first love, Brian has continued to develop his personal repertoire of fine art photographs throughout the years. His photography has spanned the globe, capturing stirring landscapes, intriguing characters, and thought-provoking and moving studies by using a wide variety of methods and media. Always fascinated with the juxtaposition of light and color, his newest series goes a step beyond, stretching natural landscapes and cityscapes into rainbows of color, evoking senses of emotion, movement and imagination.
Brian currently resides with his wife and son in Sierra Madre, California.
“Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right”.
– Robert Hunter