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I became interested in media very early in life. One of my older sisters worked for a company that specialized in language labs, school AV equipment and recorded curriculum. For a high school graduation present, my sister’s boss gave her a portable reel-to-reel tape deck. Much to myt dismay, my dear sister let me play with this machine to my heart’s content. I was able to learn how a quarter inch tape-transport worked and how to record my voice. I remember pretending I was a radio announcer.

When I hit junior high I started hanging around with the older guys who ran the PA system and delivered the record players, 16mm movie and filmstrip projectors to the classrooms each morning. I also learned how to thread the film projectors, change lamps and replace phonograph needles. I continued these activities in high school as a member of AVO, the Audio Visual Operators. I was a geek before the term had been coined.

Also during my high school days I hung out at a local FM radio station near my home. My interest in AV matured quickly as I was exposed to a broadcast operation.

I got my first film camera, a Kodak Instamatic, after I joined the Navy and was stationed in Hawaii. I had opportunities to record my memories in that beautiful place as well as in ports all over the western Pacific. A buddy of mine introduced me to 35mm photography and the black and white darkroom. Cameras and accessories were cheap over in Asia so I stocked up on a complete kit with lenses, filters, flash unit and tripod. It was about this time I got interested in shooting 35mm slides. I purchased a projector and entertained my friends and family with slide shows of my travels and adventures. I quickly learned that you can’t crop slides; what a great way to learn composition!

When my Navy enlistment ended I entered college. I did not declare a major because I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I know I wasn’t thinking about media, journalism or broadcasting. Near the end of the first semester I discovered the campus newspaper. I walked into the publication office and asked, “how does one become a photographer for this paper.” They recruited me on the spot without seeing my camera kit or my portfolio. A few months later they promoted me to Photo Editor, a position I held for over a year. At the same time, the previous Photo Editor had a job working in the camera department of the local J.C. Penney. She got me a job. I was in photo-heaven.

Midway though my second semester I discovered that the school had a radio station. I inquired about what it took to work there and was told that there’s a program for students to work at the station for credit. I signed up and declared Speech Communications as my major. That’s the only degree the school offered. I could have transferred to a school with a Journalism or Broadcasting major program, but I as happy working my way through school as a photographer and broadcaster.

I continued to work in broadcast for fifteen years before being introduced to the Macintosh computer by a good friend of mine who worked for Apple. I learned how to develop interactive software in 1991 and in 1993 left broadcasting for a career in multimedia.

We’ll be talking about how consumers document their lives with photos and video. Stay tuned for commentary and conversations on a slew of relevant and related subjects.