January 1972 ~ 

This set of photographs demonstrates my early understanding of photography.  By this time I had learned the basic darkroom skills to routinely process black and white photographs.  I knew how to take a basic photograph.  I was getting better at figuring out just the right moment.  I was not yet thinking about placing myself and camera at just the right view.

Most of the photos are of a gymnastics meet at the University of Iowa.  I had been shadowing my uncle, Phil, who was a staff photographer for the Iowa City Press-Citizen while he was a university student.  I got bored in Muscatine when I was 15.  I would occasionally take the bus to Iowa City on Friday evenings and meet my aunt, Sandy, and Phil who chaperoned dances at the Robert *A* Lee recreation center.  (Don’t forget the A!)

I would then spend Saturday with them, doing whatever.  This time it was accompanying Phil to a photo shoot.  I brought along my camera and film and shot what I saw.  I enjoyed sports photography when I was just starting out in photography.  It made me concentrate on just the right moment for the photo.  I had to be attentive and aware.  I was not yet thinking of where I should be when that moment strolled by.

They would drive me back home to Muscatine on Sunday.  Mom would cook a nice meal for everyone.  It was a good way to end a good weekend. 

These photographs show that by January of my high school sophomore year, I was out and about with the camera.  Kathy Phelps, Debora Overson and I were on the yearbook staff.  They were cheerleaders.  I was not.  The yearbook staff had their meetings in the same room as housed DECA, the combination school credit and after school work experience.  This room had mannequines for the students to practice window dressing.  We disassembled them and had fun. 

Another set of the photos was of the diving at a swim meet in the town's YMCA.  It was a sorry pool for a swim meet.  Four 25-yard lanes.  Narrow bleachers.  Concrete walls.  Hot, steamy, noisy.  No good lighting.  But still the spectators came out to watch the young men in their speedos.