Photography was one of many subjects I was interested in at age 17. It wasn’t long before I began experimenting with filters, mattes, multiple exposures and time exposures. Soon after that, I bought a couple of lights and photographed some of my first table-top product shots.

I continued playing around with photography as a hobby until October of 1982 when I started my first class at Brooks Institute of Photography in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. My first year at Brooks Institute was all about photography. I bought a 4 x 5 view camera and processed my own film. I spent many hours in the dark room making print after print. As the year progressed I moved on to 4 x 5 color transparencies, then on to 35mm slide shows and multi-media production.

After graduating from Brooks I plunged myself into the film business and hit a rock wall. I did eventually end up at Continental Camera / Astrovision, which was major fun. A year later I started a photography business, Lantz Commercial Photography, picking up whatever jobs I could find. I invested $20,000 in an impressive equipment package that included a Mamiya RZ-67 with 2 lenses, a 4 x 5 view camera, two Nikon F3's, two Speedotron power packs, several light heads, soft boxes and every accessory you could think of packed into custom cases. It was awesome, but finding work was difficult and getting paid in less than 3 months almost impossible, not to mention how difficult it was to get all of my cases in and out of a tiny closet under the stairs.

After a year of struggling, I hung up my photographer's hat and went back to work as a senior draftsman. A year later I was hired for a major photo shoot for America West Airlines. I photographed their Dash-8, 737 and one of two 747's they just put into service for their new JFK and Hawaiian runs. We flew in a Learjet equipped with two Astrovision Systems (top and bottom port) in close formation with each plane. It was amazing to look out the window and see a 747 right off the wing tip. The biggest challenge was balancing myself during the constant acceleration and de-acceleration of the Learjet and moving around the cabin without bumping the Astrovision cameras while they were shooting (with three cameras strung around my neck). My legs were sore for a week after the shoot.

I have been a "freelantz" photographer since my humble beginnings in 1978. My collective skills in photography, graphic design and Photoshop were invaluable in producing a vast number of product and prototype photos, "virtual prototypes" (combining photography with Illustration), a comprehensive website and marketing collateral for We Thought of That, a product invention company I was a partner in.

Professional Experience

1/1979 - Present: Freelance Photographer - I have been a "freelantz" photographer since high school and have photographed everything from weddings to business jets. I have taken literally thousands of pictures and have extensive experience in both digital and film formats, including 35mm, medium and large (4" x 5") film formats. Currently, I shoot with a 10.2mp digital camera and a Nikon D100 digital camera. I am an expert with PhotoPaint and Photoshop software.

3/1988 - 5/1989: Lantz Commercial Photography, Marina Del Rey & Playa Del Rey, CA - Commercial Photographer - Specialized in product photography and fully equipped with small, medium and large format film cameras and a Speedotron light package. Clients included Tiffen Filters and several high-tech companies around Los Angeles.

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