Randy Read's photostream  

I am as close to a San Diego native as you can get, without being born here. Born in S. Illinois, but wasn't there for long. The folks figured there had to be a better life out west, so off they went. We couldn't go any further without getting good and wet, so here we stayed.

Public school and finally a degree from SDSU (Go Aztecs!) where I got a degree that would allow me to be a shop teacher. Wood, graphic arts and drafting were my areas of expertise. The photographic classes were nearly impossible to get into, so I hung with some of the guys in that area and learned a little by osmosis. A few that I have stayed in contact with went on to be sucessful commercial photogs and teachers. My teaching career never started as the public schools decided that everyone needed a college education and now there was no need for a vocational education. We are paying for that decision now (don't get me started). I entered the family construction business, and after nearly 30 years in this industry, I am looking forward to retiring someday and just wandering around shooting pics.

I am pretty much self taught, and have gone from 35mm and medium format film and darkroom to digital. I have given my darkroom and film cameras away as I like the more immediate results of digital. I do miss the solitude of working for hours on one b&w print, but not the film processing and the constant worry of losing an image due to some foolish mistake. I have come to the realization that I need to go back to school and learn more about Photoshop, etc. from someone who has more patience than I do. You can teach an old dog new tricks, you just need a little more time and patience.