Web sites, print design, and photography for the Mendocino Coast and the rest of the world

If a jack of all trades really is a master of none, I'm in big trouble. I do lots of different things, in many different realms, and I like to think I do many of these things pretty well. Sometimes my seemingly disparate interests dovetail together in interesting ways, sometimes they exist in their own little worlds. From the visual and performing arts, to the geeky world of web site development, my skills and interests cover a broad spectrum. This site is my own little showcase; it's part gallery/portfolio, part résumé, part just plain showing-off.

Web site design and development

I have an extensive set of web skills. I hand code simple, standards compliant HTML/CSS. I use PHP and MySQL for database-driven sites and server-side scripts for various functions. I've built my own framework for website development, which allows me to quickly create sites with sophisticated functionality without the bloat endemic to standard website-in-a-box tools.

When a little extra razzmatazz is called for, I can bring some skills with videography, JavaScript, and QuickTime to the fray. My sites are search engine friendly, easily maintained, literate, and visually attractive.

I like to think that I'm the best one-stop shop for web site design, development, and promotion on the Mendocino Coast; I can write and/or edit the copy, take the photos, design the graphics, develop the database and server side scripts, make sure the whole site is optimized for the search engines, and build your presence on the social media.

Print design

Using InDesign, lllustrator, and PhotoShop; I create a variety of print projects; including posters, brochures, books, maps, newsletters, mail order catalogs, business cards, and performing arts programs. I have a solid background, not only in the use of the programs, but in the principles of typography and design as well.

Photography

You will find an extensive catalog of my nature photography on this site. I have been a serious nature photographer since the mid-1980s. I have done many solo gallery exhibits and group shows. My work has been published in a variety of publications. I exhibit and sell my work online and at my office/gallery in Mendocino. I had my own color darkroom, until digital technology rendered it irrelevant. I have been doing my own color printing digitally for about twenty years.

My photographic skills are used in a multitude of projects besides nature photography. I've photographed commercial products, art objects, theatrical performances, people, pets, real estate, and the occasional wedding.

Office & Studio

I have an office and studio. It’s in eastern part of the village of Mendocino, on Hills Road off of Little Lake Road. Call for an appointment: 707-937-1987.

Theatre, genealogy, other interests

My academic background is largely in theatre; I hold a B.A. in Dramatic Art from UC Berkeley. I've acted, directed, stage managed, designed sound, operated light boards, designed posters and programs, worked in the box office, etc. with the Mendocino Theatre Company and a variety of other theatre groups.

I've also included some genealogical/historical data on this site. I've assembled an extensive family tree from a variety of sources. One of my great-great grandfathers, Samuel Oliver Bereman, left an interesting journal of his Civil War adventures; it makes good reading for people with any interest in that dramatic period.

Do as I say, not as I do

I'm constantly telling my clients to update their sites frequently. However, I'm often too busy to heed my own advice; prior to this revision, my own site has gone largely unmaintained for a few years. Now, I'm rebuilding it on my own website framework. I apologize for any snafus during the transition.

I also have a blog which I don't post in very often, but you're free to check it out.