It’s been observed, that all southern men are heavily influenced by their mothers.  My mother, in her own way, wasn’t much different. In 1974 after two years in the Army, I was prepared to return to my life, such as it was, in Baton Rouge. My mother took me aside and said, “If you don’t leave the south now, you never will”.  She was prepared to “lose” me in order to open my horizons.

Traveling West '74Army ID 1972

Army I.D. 1972

This then is how I began my travels through the west ending in May of 1975 in Seattle. Fresh into town, I found Seattle to be a grand place to live, except for the weather.  That first summer passed pleasantly into fall. October of ’75 had one day without rain. I made it through and I have learned to cope with the long days without sunshine. I purchased a rain jacket, cap, a pair of Birkenstocks, hiking boats and went forward.

I had four years of G.I. bill to use, a great desire to learn and some grand schools from which to choose.  After my third degree, the last being in bio-medical photography, I left the NW for a job in Birmingham, AL.  There I managed the medical photography department of the University of Alabama’s medical school. After 4 months I moved on.   I can say it was a poor match up on both sides.  I  returned to the NW. My mother’s message was whispering in my ear to leave the south.  As much as I love the south, it’s culture, the food, my close friends and family, the Northwest is and was a better fit.

I moved to Tacoma for a job with the Army, this time as a civilian. For a while I worked as a medical photographer at Madigan Hospital before being hired by the UW. In January of ’80, I became the UW’s second “official” photographer. For over a decade I honed my craft, raised a family and along the way grew restless. Ready to seek new adventures, I started a commercial photography business. After a few years of part-time UW and part-time commercial work and with a gulp and a boot I  hurled myself  full-time into freelance photographer. It was the early 90′s.

Jon Shirley and Bill Gates Microsoft Annual Report

My  first important commercial assignment was for a then small and little known company called Microsoft. I recall on a Thursday I meet with Microsoft’s art director, she reviewed my work and said, “Great! We’ll start the annual on Monday.” I wasn’t totally sure what we’d do, but I went home and told my wife that it paid really well and I’d be traveling to NYC among other places.” My next annual report was for Nordstrom but took  1 1/2 years to snare and a lot of portfolio reviews. From then forward, I was busy with primarily corporate work, teaching & lecturing, portrait and personal work.

From there to here has been 20+ years. Annual reports are almost a thing of the past. My art director friend left Microsoft a decade ago. Now my focus is  on portrait work, teaching, creative pursuits and staying  close to Seattle.

This is my first posting on my blog. To be honest, I don’t exactly know what I’m supposed to do here. I did some inter-net research and no one seems to have an answer.  I hope my occasional words are of interest to anyone out in cyberland.

Enjoy and carpe diem