a r t i s t s t a t e m e n t
I view my photography career as one door of opportunity leading to another, and then another.
In 1966, to fulfill my military obligation, I enlisted in the US Navy, serving two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. First tour was Operation Market Time. For my second tour, I requested and served on the same aircraft carrier my Naval Aviator Father’s Air Squadron was attached to. When I reported for duty, to my surprise, my new squadron duty assignment was to replace the current squadron’s photographer who was being posted to another duty station.
That is how I was introduced to photography!
Having no previous interest or experience in photography, other than a Kodak Instamatic, I never imagined I would becoming a Professional Photographer / Cinematographer.
Upon returning to the U.S. and Honorably Discharged in 1968, my photography career began its upward journey, when a family acquaintance, a commercial and horse show photographer, offered me a position as an assistant photographer and darkroom manager at his photo studio, which quickly led to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and offer as a freelance Cinematographer position with NFL Films. Ultimately, that connection led to multiple Professional and College Sports accounts and Commercial Photography clientele for over three decades, crafting my photographic and artistic statement.
I describe my present-day photography as “How I See… What I See” and the “ART of FREEZE”, a reference to the Cinematography term, “Freeze Frame”, isolating a single frame of motion picture film, depicting an instant, motionless, inspirational, one-of-a kind image that conveys an expressive, powerful and memorable moment in time.
Today, the lure of the camera continues, combined with my love and passion for the great outdoors and the natural world. I focus my photo art passion to new photographic challenges, capturing familiar and not so familiar subjects, always holding that mentality of that Freeze Frame of How I See…What I See.
My eye has always been vigilant for that exceptional moment in time before the light, wind or subject will change forever, a continual search for that image that no one else would ever visualize.
My art career also included owning successful art galleries in La Jolla, Yountville and Napa Valley California, retiring my gallery business in 2008.
” The most important element of a camera lens, is the eye behind it”
MJ SCHAER
