My love for photography began when I unwrapped a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye on my birthday as a boy. I was hooked on the idea that a single click could hold onto a moment forever. I tried color, but always came back to black and white—drawn to its way of revealing what color sometimes hides: contrast, texture, and emotional depth.

Life steered me into a 40-year career in advertising, where photography stayed a hobby. Working with professional photographers and artists during that time quietly sharpened my own skills.

Digital photography changed everything. My first Nikon D70 freed me to experiment without worrying about film, and Photoshop opened the door to endless creative possibilities. I’ve been walking through that door ever since, believing, as Ansel Adams said, that “photographs are made, not taken.”

Today, I live in Evanston, Illinois, with my wife, Joan, and our two cats. Chicago is just next door, offering world-class architecture and a constant source of inspiration.

My work is available through Fine Art America in a range of formats, from framed prints to canvas and metal. I also teach Photoshop to photographers, locally and online. You can reach me at jim@jimsignorelli.me.