Founder of FLANO's-FOTO's and Focused Adventures

With a lens trained on both the heavens and the horizon, FLANO has spent decades capturing the wild, the wondrous, and the rarely witnessed. He is the creative force behind FLANO’s-FOTO’s, a body of photographic work focused on landscapes, severe weather, celestial events, and the quietly powerful moments that unfold when nature is at its most candid.


FLANO's photographic journey began in the 1980s and has taken him across continents and climates. Whether chasing monsoon lightning across the American Southwest, photographing tornadoes in the Great Plains, or capturing the serene glow of the Milky Way under some of the darkest skies in North America, his imagery blends technical mastery with an instinct for storytelling. His work is as much about patience and prediction as it is about light and timing.


Before fully embracing his photography career, FLANO served in the United States Air Force as a German and Russian linguist, stationed in West Germany during the Cold War. There, he also found his calling as an instructor—teaching language, critical thinking, and situational analysis to intelligence professionals in high-stakes environments. This experience sharpened his skills as a communicator and educator, helping others distill clarity from chaos—skills that would later become essential to his creative and instructional ventures.


After retiring from the military, FLANO embarked on a second teaching journey with American Airlines. There, he played a pivotal role as a International Training Coordinator, Resolution Desk Supervisor, and Subject Matter Expert, guiding new hires and seasoned professionals through the intricacies of international reservations, complex itinerary building, and the customer experience. His contributions helped shape internal systems and elevate training standards company-wide.


In September of 2024, FLANO synthesized these lifelong passions—photography, education, and adventure—into the launch of Focused Adventures, a travel and photography workshop series that serves photographers of all experience levels. These curated workshops go far beyond the basics. Each experience is designed to immerse participants in remote, often unpredictable natural environments, where they learn to anticipate weather, use light creatively, and push their technical and artistic boundaries.


FLANO’s workshops don’t just teach photography; they build photographers. He brings a rare blend of precision, humor, and heart to every session—ensuring that each participant walks away not only with stunning images but with a renewed sense of wonder, confidence, and connection to the natural world.


Whether you’re an aspiring photographer with a new camera or a seasoned pro looking to expand your portfolio under challenging conditions, FLANO’s Focused Adventures offer something priceless: real-world experience guided by a man who has lived a life of focus, purpose, and perspective.