I’ve followed what might seem like an unlikely pairing of two long-term careers: photography and software programming. Though they’ve often pulled me in different directions, the overlap between them has shaped much of my professional life.
Photography came first. I started young - with a Kodak Brownie in fourth grade - and went on to earn degrees in journalism and photojournalism from Southern Illinois University. For years I worked as a freelance photojournalist based in Denver, covering the Rocky Mountain region. My work appeared in Time, Newsweek, Business Week, Forbes, and many others. I was also hired by corporations to bring an editorial eye to their marketing materials and reports.
When personal computers hit the scene, I saw the potential right away. I bought one of the first Macintoshes, hoping to streamline my workflow. But I quickly discovered the software I needed didn’t exist - especially for the unique demands of a photography business. I didn’t just need tools for contacts and invoicing; I needed a way to manage image libraries, licenses, and copyrights
So I read a software manual and learned how to build a database. Then I expanded its capabilities. Soon, other photographers saw what I’d made and wanted their own copies. That’s how my second career began. The program eventually evolved into a full-featured photography business management system, used by top professionals around the world for many years. While it’s no longer commercially available, many still use it today.
Creating that software deepened my understanding of business practices. My involvement with the American Society of Media Photographers was instrumental. I listened, learned, and designed systems around what photographers really needed. I eventually served as a director and officer in the organization, speaking nationwide to photography groups about both technology and creative practices.
Through it all, I never put my camera down. One personal project - a long-term photodocumentary on Native Americans - drew national attention. PBS featured my work in a segment filmed at Wounded Knee, and Kodak showcased it in seminars across the country. The Smithsonian Institution acquired prints for its permanent collection at the National Museum of the American Indian. In 2022, the Holland Museum hosted an exhibit of 25 of my Contemporary Portraits of Native Americans.
Then came the digital revolution. The photojournalism world changed rapidly as news moved online and crowdsourced images replaced many professional assignments. As demand for photography waned, so did demand for photo business software. It didn’t happen overnight, but the shift was unmistakable.
By 2005, I was no longer tied to a specific location for my work. With the unwavering support of my wife, Kathleen Miller Cook, we moved to Saugatuck, Michigan, ready for reinvention.
There, I took on select custom software projects while gradually returning to photography. I now focus on the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Saugatuck Dunes, Native communities in West Michigan, and travel—always with a camera in hand.
Today, I create images for the sheer pleasure of it - and because I can’t stop seeing. When I’m not making new work, I’m exploring the thousands of photographs I’ve taken over a lifetime; revisiting, reflecting, and rediscovering. Selected images, both old and new, are shared here as fine art prints and for your viewing enjoyment.
