2011-10-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

Big Basin's Redwoods — Images by Glenn Franco Simmons

Welcome to this blog, which serves as my bio and Web portal (please see Web sites in the adjacent column).

I'm a former editor and news director who actually enjoyed the creative drudgery of editing ~ until I realized in the early 2000s that the American public- and private-education systems were failing dismally in teaching basic rudiments such as spelling ~ a skill that so many young journalists shockingly lack at all levels, from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal to your local weekly or Internet publication.

At a daily newspaper that evolved from an online newspaper, I found myself spending inordinate amounts of time helping copyeditors wade through the mistakes that would have resulted in most journalists of my generation getting their walking papers.

The online publication I helped create became so successful that it was determined it should become a daily print newspaper, which I opposed but didn't have a choice in determining. This "insightful" decision was made at a time when the print industry was desperately trying to survive. When the economy took a dive, the ill-conceived print daily went belly-up, but by that time, I had already moved on.

Call it serendipity, but I somehow landed on one foot with a new camera, and my favorite task at the newspapers and my favorite hobby (other than gardening and kayaking) became a new career.

However, I'm still trying to gain a foothold, and my Fragrant Flower Photography Web site is part of that process.

I'm much happier taking photos and sharing them with people I meet ~ from so many countries that I've honestly lost count.

Many of my days are now spent sharing my photos with others, rather than bringing the latest crime, accident and other "upheaval" headlines masquerading as news to a public addicted to "infotainment" and "crime-of-the-hourtainment."

Although many of my acquaintances from other countries often call me "The Flower Photographer” when referring me to others in their groups at locations where I photograph (which are often popular with tour groups), I photograph more than flowers, so don’t be surprised to see redwoods, landscapes, cats, butterflies, sea life and more on my Web sites and for sale on Fragrant Flower Photography.

Many of my tens of thousands of images already taken of those subjects were taken with a digital Nikon and lenses several steps below the Nikon and lenses I currently use.

Arabic Hidden Words (free) — Images by Glenn Franco Simmons

As 2012 progresses, please come back to see new photos that will hopefully include Humboldt Redwoods State Park, McWay Cove and Falls, roses, tulips, daffodils, gardens and more.

I'm very happily married to Kathleen, a real Sweetheart and my best friend, who often accompanies me on my photography adventures.

Born in Walnut Creek, I was reared in a small redwood-forested valley in the heart of The Redwood Empire (Humboldt County). I lived in Humboldt County for 40 years but now reside in Valley of Heart’s Delight ~ otherwise known as Silicon Valley, and a place I call Paradise because of the wealth of natural beauty, and the treasures in museums, gardens and other locations.

A brief explanation regarding my name is probably prudent because of the quizzical looks I get when someone asks me to repeat it. Usually, I leave out my middle name, but that does not seem to lessen the confusion, especially when it is incorrectly logged into computers alphabetically.

My middle name of Thomas is in honor of my Great-Great-Grandfather, the famous California landscape artist Thomas Hill. Franco is the surname of my Father, Mario, who tragically passed away when I was a young boy, and Simmons is the surname of my Dad, Lee, who passed away in 2008. My first name, so often misspelled, was my late Mother’s choice.

San Francisco Flowers — Images by Glenn Franco Simmons