Alan was two years old when he discovered camera and film. The first encounter was propping open an unattended camera and exposing undeveloped vacation photos. His endeavor to share what he sees traces to these humble beginnings. He was born in 1955 and the middle child of five siblings growing up in the San Fernando Valley. His mother and father were immigrants from Finland. Both met in art school and are the source of inspiration in his work. Besides photography, as a child, Alan was obsessed with illustrating helicopters, fish and “hi top” shoes. The latter obsession continues with his customized polka dotted Converse and Vans. Silver halides were common in the house. His father’s darkroom included it and all the ingredients to create family pictures. All the requisite tools and technical expertise was available. Through the formative years of picturemaking, his knowledge of the appropriate use of these tools was followed by nearly three decades of studying his subject in an intense manner. It is Eastern California where his canvas lies. Regular visits to the Great Basin occur throughout the year, in particular, Mono Lake and Death Valley. His primary focus is the ever changing sand dunes of Death Valley. It is very likely no one else traverses several miles over these great undulating mounds of sand. He transports an antique wooden tripod and 8x10 view camera. This perseverance enables him to see a new and unique environment. Consider the size of the film: 8x10. Due to logistics, Alan can only hope to photograph one or two compositions on a given trip. Each visit is special. The light is different. The wind sculpts a new vista. The camera captures the moment on command. Alan is inspired by the work of Brett Weston and his pioneer father, Edward Weston. He often made pilgrimages to Big Sur to learn the origins of these two important figures in the world of art. In contrast, Alan’s black and white images are tightly composed to reduce the subject to its basic elements of light and contrast. Cole, another Weston photographer and heir to the legacy, once described Alan as “one damn good photographer”. His careful study of dune forms certainly portrays this sentiment.