In Focus: A Brief Intro

A little about me, my gear, and why I shoot what I shoot

I’m a photographer from Central New York, USA. This is a primarily rural region nestled between the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, right about in the center of the state.

I started as a curious shutterbug when I was a kid. My first camera was a Kodak 110 pocket camera—a plastic rectangle with a film cartridge, a shutter button, and nothing else. Waiting for prints to come back from the photo lab by mail was always exciting. In my late teens, I moved on to 35mm point-and-shoot cameras.

Film Cameras

Eventually, I picked up a used manual SLR to learn how a “real” camera worked and have a little more control over how my pictures turned out. For quite a while, I shot with a Minolta XG-M and X-700—manual focus cameras with aperture priority. I was off and running. Digital wasn’t a thing yet.

After a few classes and several equipment upgrades, I jumped to digital when Canon released the 10D. Over time, I started carrying my camera on hikes and camping trips, getting more interested in the landscapes around me. Central New York is a very scenic place.

Over the years, I’ve gone from film to digital, from snapshots to more carefully composed images. I spent a long time focusing on the technical side—getting the exposure just right, keeping everything sharp, documenting what was in front of me. I photographed people, events, and everyday objects. I wanted to get it right.

But eventually, that wasn’t enough. I wanted more than sharp focus and proper exposure. I wanted to make images that felt like something.

These days, I photograph the landscapes, small towns, old structures, and changing light of Upstate New York (and occasionally beyond). My current digital work is exclusively done on Fujifilm’s X Series equipment. I look for scenes most people overlook—or ones that have been long forgotten. My best images come from slowing down and paying attention.

More Current Work

This journal is where I share those images—and the stories behind them. Sometimes it’s about the camera. Sometimes it’s about the place. But it’s always about trying to see more deeply and to make something that sticks with you.

Thanks for being here. I’m still figuring this out as I go—but I’m glad to have the company.

Where to Find Me

You can find more of my work at: Simmons Photography

If you want to work with me, or inquire about licensing: Contact Page