Born in Peoria, Illinois, Al first latched onto photography working for his high school newspaper in 1976. He continued pursuing that interest at Illionois State University, taking a number of courses, where he learned to develop film and make prints. Over the ensuing years, Al maintained a 'serious amateur' status, experimenting with 3D photography as well as shooting panoramic sets, some as large as eight or more images wide. When digital photography took off and the ability to edit, massage and print one's own work blossomed, he was in heaven.more