I met Andre Kertesz just two weeks before his death on September 28, 1985 while I was still a photography student at the University of New Mexico, College of Fine Arts. Andre had visited Santa Fe, New Mexico for a gallery opening with his work, a fine collection of his images. I was living just 50 miles away in Albuquerque, N.M. at the time. I had a chance to sit and talk with Andre for a short conversation since the only language we had in common was French and he was tired from the jet lag. I am soooo glad I studied French in High School and College before this meeting! We were able to talk a little bit about his amazing work. I just praised him for what he did for my career and all the inspiration I had by just studying his images closely and dreaming that some day I would like to be that good of a photographer.

Kertesz made an incredible contribution to modern photojournalism and street photography. He was one of my most favorite photographers of all time with Henri Cartier-Bresson coming in on a close second. Andre's amazing creativity with a camera showed me that there are no limits to the beauty you can find in daily life if you carry your camera with you at all times. The sky's the limit and Andre captured it perfectly.

I had also studied about Andre Kertesz in my photo history classes at UNM under Beaumont Newhall, another amazing photography contributor. What an amazing career I have been blessed with! To know so much about this incredible photographer's life work while growing up as a young photographer and then finally meeting him in person!! Wow, can't get any better than that. This man laid the foundations for photojournalism and capturing fleeing moments that only a trained eye can anticipate and capture.