OPENING STATEMENT

I began my interest in lasers and holography in 1968 -- 35 years ago -- after seeing my first laser-transmission hologram at Edmund Scientific in Barrington, NJ. While everyone else was talking about the Beatles et al, I was talking about holograms. I was in the 8th grade and, I guess, was considered a pretty weird kid.

I attended my first holography exhibit, the Museum of Holography's "Through the Looking Glass", at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, PA in 1976 -- 27 years ago.

I finally started my own holography studio/lab, and began working with holography myself, in 1983 -- 20 years ago. The laser, a 15mW Spectra-Physics 124b, took 36-monthly payments to pay off.

Next to family and friends, the past 20 years in holography have been the most rewarding experience of my life. It's impossible to give an account of the past 7,300 days . . . the successes, and the failures. All of it seems a bit overwhelming as a single snapshot.

So, I went through the collection of my works, and have randomly chosen 20 holograms to represent these 20 years. I have included RealAudio comments for most, explaining the story behind each and its making.

Individually, each was a pivital point along this most amazing journey. Combined, they represent my life, so far, in holography -- living, and practicing, in a small town in America.


Frank DeFreitas