My website is always evolving with newly created projects and stories. The gallery includes most of the projects you can view; however, some have not yet been released because I am still verifying certain stories or working with historical societies on them. Once all the projects are finished, I will select the best ones and publish them in a leather-bound bourbon table book.

This site is for the curious who like to explore and want to learn more about history. These short stories contain “Fun Nuggets” of information that will guide you to the great people and places, Use the menu at the top and go to the Gallery and choose a story you want to know more about, using the “Fly to” feature and the links on each page will help you explore as deeply as you want to go.

Circa images (typically over 100 years old) often have limited date and contextual information and are generally considered public domain. However, some are still owned and preserved by historical societies for safekeeping. History has often been written by the victor, and these stories reflect my perspective after taking a deeper look into the time periods and events. I draw from written records and historical accounts from many respected individuals and organizations to help present a more nuanced version of these stories, without the victor’s influence on how the events are framed.

Quick history breakdown of photography: Most of these images were taken in the early 1800s and were created using several early photographic methods, primarily five main processes.

Daguerreotype (1839–1855):
A copper plate coated with a thin layer of silver, polished to a mirror finish and sensitized with iodine and bromine. The image is exposed in-camera and developed using mercury fumes. Each image is a one-of-a-kind original with no negative.

Calotype (or Talbotype) (1841–1850):
A paper process coated with silver iodide and developed using gallic acid to create a negative. This allowed for multiple prints to be made from a single exposure. It is known for its soft, fibrous, matte texture and was often used for landscapes and architectural photography.

Wet Plate (Collodion) (1850–1880):
An early photographic process in which a glass or metal plate is coated with a light-sensitive chemical and must be exposed and developed while still wet, typically within 10–15 minutes. This required the use of a portable darkroom in the field.

Dry Plate (1870–1920):
A more practical method using a glass plate coated with a dry gelatin emulsion. Plates could be manufactured in advance, stored, and developed later, eliminating the need for a portable darkroom during exposure.

Roll Film (1881–present):
Early versions were patented in 1881 for a roll-film holder by Peter and David Houston, using a light-sensitive emulsion coated on flexible paper. In 1885, the patent was licensed to the Eastman company, which developed the first commercially successful system. It was later marketed by Eastman with the slogan: “You push the button; we do the rest.”

Note: Early versions of roll film and motion picture film used cellulose nitrate as a base, which was highly flammable and chemically unstable.

Stereograph (1838–1920):
A 3D photographic print created from two images taken simultaneously by a camera with two lenses spaced about 2.5 inches apart, approximating the distance between human eyes. When viewed through a stereoscope (a special 3D viewer), the two images merge to create the illusion of depth. Stereographs were produced using all major photographic methods of the time.

This book is the result of years spent as a student of exploration and photography, taking thousands of images and developing a way to tell the story of how I see a changing world through research and GPS technology.

The process of aligning an old circa image with the exact spot where the original photographer stood with their tripod and camera is an art in itself. For me, the process begins with researching a location and going through hundreds of old images until I find one that tells a compelling story.

At that point, the real work begins. Determining whether a location can be recreated is often the biggest challenge. With changing cultural attitudes, city planning, and the effects of nature over time, some scenes simply can’t be replicated. Many of our most valuable historical settings have been lost to the steady march of time.

The use of Google Earth is one of my primary tools for locating sites. By using the “Drive By” feature, I can determine whether an image project can move forward or not. If the location appears to be re creatable, I begin the long process of securing the original image for use. Each page includes two sets of coordinates: one in Garmin format, and another formatted for Google, which can be entered directly into your phone for easy navigation. You will also find a “Fly To” button on each page that will take you directly to the location.

Once I have everything in place, I begin physically scouting the site. This can take several attempts—or even years—depending on the time of year and weather conditions, both of which can significantly affect the shot. Once on location, I work to match the original perspective, accounting for tripod height, changes in ground level over time, and modern-day interference such as people, traffic, and other environmental factors.

When all the stars align, I capture GPS data for the exact height, coordinates, and compass direction. And voilà, the Photoshop process begins, overlaying the original image as a transparent layer to match the new shot precisely.