HI,
I'm Peter.
I'm a fashion, editorial and commercial photographer living in Los Angeles. With a background in both still photography and cinematography, I've been making images for over 40 years. Comfortable in studio or in the wild, I thrive at taking pictures under any conditions. My photographs tend to have a purpose and tell a particular story or accentuate a certain aspect of the subject, or state of being. Whether finding light or painting with it, I'm always looking for that spark of emotion, you know, that one that reminds us we're alive.
MAGICIANS IN THE DARK.
From as early as I can remember, there's always been a camera laying around, ready to pick up and create. At first, I'd sit on the corner of the table and watch as my father manifested his creations in the darkroom he'd set up in our kitchen, zapping paper with light under the pale red glow and mixing it with vaporous chemicals to reveal the images hidden in the fibers and emulsions. Sometimes he'd wave his hands in the beams like a sorcerer in the dark, painting light with shadows, bringing the pictures to life right before my eyes. The process was nothing short of pure magic to me, and it wasn't long before I was begging to learn the spells myself.
THIRD EYE.
Pretty soon, it seemed like there was always one of these things in front of my face. My dad was living in Berlin in the 1980's, and every day he'd arm me with a few rolls of Ilford FP4 to load the Nikkormat, and I'd venture out into the streets in search of pictures to make.
In the beginning, it was all cars and buildings, but soon I was shooting animals too, and then people. Anything that moved or had a story to tell, I was anxious to listen and be part of the conversation.
Without a zoom lens, I was always shifting around to find my frames, climbing walls and buildings to pull back for a wide, or flat on my stomach with my macro trained on some poor bug in a puddle reflection. I was never sitting still.
My camera became a new way for me to see reality, one I could have creative influence over, one that gave me a voice. Whether scaling chairs and mountains or trudging through muddy ditches, it just didn't feel like much stood between me and the pictures out there waiting to be made.
Have Camera, Will Travel.
From still photos to studying film in school, I eventually landed behind moving cameras, a career that has given me a peek into so much I never could have imagined. In 2006, I began a journey to see what was out there. And, over the next twelve years, my camera and I zig-zagged around the planet some 20-odd times - as a cameraman and director of photography for shows like CBS's The Amazing Race - grinding out television 'round-the-clock and stealing a few frames in the spare hours I had to myself.
Days upon months of chasing tight little moments for prime time had me constantly scanning the horizon for what's up ahead or around the next corner. Those early days in the streets of Berlin had developed into a sensitivity connecting the people I'd find in my eyepiece with what they imagined themselves to be, or longed to become.
And, my camera somehow became their vehicle.
Be your story.
40-plus years behind a stack of glass has opened my eyes to so many wonderful aspects of our shared adventure. The world is full of life and we are continually enhancing it with the colors of our individuality. Each of us has a story to tell. Let me help you find your language.
The Process
01. Connect
Reach out by email, social, however, and let's start a conversation. You have a spark, a need, a curiosity you want to explore. Tell me everything. Let's pick up the thread and find out where it leads.
Share your story
02. Conceptualize
Every project has a goal, and it's my mission to help you find a path to it. We'll discuss your ideas and where you want to end up. Then we'll devise a plan. Starting with an initial call, we'll talk through creative vision and what we want to achieve.
Develop Your Vision
03. Create
Once we settle on our goals, I'll follow up with an email detailing my ideas and some things to keep in mind, wardrobe/props to bring, finalize plans for HMU, etc. On the day of the shoot, I'll walk you through everything. Just relax and have fun!