Member Bios
Barbara Gore
I have been interested in photography for as long as I can remember but was always at the snapshot level. Growing up I had film camera and I photographed what was pleasing to my eye but never really learned the craft or took the time to understand the elements of light, composition, or color, etc.
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<br />When I retired in 2012, I started on a self-taught photo journey using a Canon DSLR. My passion has always been the outdoors so it's no surprise I chose landscapes/nature to be my starting point. I took various workshops and photographed as much as I could. Today my passion is still the outdoors, but now I bring my camera, tripod, and filters.
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<br />Aside from landscape/nature I also have dabbled in various genres such as product, still life, family portraits, night, and street photography all with the intention of learning new skills and having fun along with some freelance work. So which niche is right for me? I love them all. I focus on what captivates me in the moment. Every new skill I acquire is a new beginning for me. I look forward to sharing and discussing images as I see this as a way to improve technically and artistically. I currently shoot with a Canon R5 and 5D Mark IV and post process in Lightroom, Photoshop, Nik, On1, and Topaz.
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Group Admin
Larry Treadwell
I am retired and living the good life in south Florida. I have always had a love affair with the wilderness and the natural world. This naturally led to an interest in photography so I could bring home memories from my adventures. I have thus been involved in photography for more than 40 years and have worked as a semi-professional including work for the PGA and LPGA as well as shooting sports for various local colleges and have photographed over 800 weddings
My favorite photographic locations are Everglades National Park (the hardest place I've ever found to photograph), the Great Smoky Mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park. That said, I will go anywhere to get a good image. I enjoy shooting the Milky Way and the night sky, a real challenge, and I enjoy using long exposures.
I have taught photography on the college level, belong to several local camera groups and have served as a photo judge at local clubs and competitions. During the last 18 months I have had the honor of serving as a judge for some international photo exhibitions with affiliations to the PSA and have found this to be a most rewarding experience. My photos have been hung in the U.S. Botanical Gardens Hall in Washington D.C. and I have had several exhibitions in the South Florida Tri-County area.
I am a member of the online group called The Nikonians and shoot Nikon cameras currently using a D800 and D810. While I have a collection of Nikon only lenses my favorites are my 24-70 and my baby, a 200-400 f4 beast that weighs 7.3 pounds. My hiking buddy is my tripod that goes everywhere I do.
Michael Jack, QPSA
Michael Jack Photography
Artist's Statement
Michael's interest in photography is centered on landscapes, architecture and automobiles. In each area he tries to capture the ordinary in a distinctive manner to draw the viewer into the scene. The uniqueness could be the result of weather, lighting or time of day or it could be a view or perspective that adds a different dimension and feel to a particular scene. Michael uses varied amounts of post processing to enhance the purpose of the image, but aims to keep the final result looking pleasing, but realistic.
Michael's objective for landscape is to place the viewer into a position where they would enjoy standing, feeling and observing - appreciating being in that spot at that time and in those conditions. His objective for architecture and automobiles is different. Both are created by a combination of design and engineering. His goal is to capture the element or elements that make the executed design unique as intended by the designers and engineers. In some cases the objectives for landscapes and architecture/automobiles are combined such as, for example, when place and lighting combine to enhance a view of an architectural structure.
Biography
Michael became seriously involved in photography after retiring from the role as a financial executive for a Fortune 500 company. The interest in photography was always present, and he did a substantial amount of racing and aircraft photography in the 1980's and 90's. However, work demands and other activities diminished the time available for photography until his retirement.
Michael has exhibited in various venues such as Launch Fishers, city halls and libraries, the Delphi Opera House, and Nickel Plate's Stephenson House. He has been active in competitions where he has received a number of awards. Michael is a member of Riviera Camera Club, Photo Venture Camera Club, and the Photographic Society of American (PSA). In addition to being a member of Nickel Plate Arts, he is also a juried member of the Hamilton County Artists Association. His website is www.michaeljackphotography.com and email is dmichael.jack@gmail.com
Arne Skinlo
Since I retired from my work in the oil industry about a year ago, I am now seriously trying to improve my photographic skills. I felt that I had to start from scratch again even though I have taken pictures all my life. So, I bought new equipment and have attended several workshops and joined a local photo club here in Bergen, Norway. Last thing was to join PSA that I hope will give me new inspiration and knowledge.
My most used camera is a Canon 5D mark lV. The most used lens is a Canon 24-70 mm f 2,8. Besides that I also use a Canon 70-200 f 2,8, Canon T/S 24 mm, Tamron 15-30 f 2,8 and Lee filters.
For post processing I use Lightroom and Photoshop to a certain extent, plus NIK collection.
Diane Ferdig
As a kid we would go camping and my parents gave us each a Kodak Instamatic X15-F with which we shot hundreds of chipmunks and distant deer you could barely see in the printed photos. I remember having a lot of fun with this camera and being proud of my photos. In high school I took a photography class and enjoyed it but with my many other activities, including horses, I didn't keep up with it. I've always been artistic and have done glass bead making with a torch, made jewelry, painted murals and faux finishes in homes. Throughout my life I’ve always enjoyed taking photos using small film and digital cameras then my iPhone. I never really thought to pursue photography as a career. Looking back, I wish I had. I started iPhone photography in the Summer of 2020 as something to do while in lockdown during the pandemic. I quickly decided I loved it. I worked very hard on taking better photos and learned to edit them through online photography courses. Then one year later I bought a Canon R6 which I now shoot the majority of my photography with. Although I have heard it said "the best camera is the one you have with you", I always have my iPhone with me. Photography has become a passion of mine. I love shooting landscapes, nature, wildlife, and my pets. This past year I submitted four photos to my local fair. Three of them won first place with a Best in Class and Special, and one second place. I was thrilled. Some of my photos have won online awards and two were recently published in an online digital magazine. I am very active with Facebook photography groups. My dream is, after I retire from nursing, that my husband and I will travel this country and world while I take landscape shots which I might sell one day.
Bill Peake
I’ve been interested in photography since I was in middle school and took a class in black and white 35mm. I ended up putting it aside for most of my adult life while I pursued a career in software engineering and raised a family with my wife. I became actively interested in photography again when digital cameras became a viable alternative to film. I got my first digital camera around 2004, a Kodak point and shoot, and later a Canon Powershot S5 IS. In 2013, I got a Panasonic GH2 and a couple of lenses for it. I am now shooting on a Nikon D7200. I have the 18-140 stock lens, a Nikon 50 prime, a Tamron 70-300 and a Tamron 150-600 (which I have yet to use). I use Photoshop for post-processing. My primary interests are landscape and travel photography. When I retired from software engineering in 2013, I joined the local photography club, and I am still active in it. In addition to photography, I also play the piano and create mods for computer games.
Adi Ben-Senior
In 1987 I bought my first camera (Pentax K1000) and photographed ever since.In 2016 I moved from Europe to VA.
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I studied photography in the Arts museum of Tel-Aviv and then became a professional photographer in the navy including a nature journal. In the 90's as a professional printer in labs, I leaned "what makes a good print".My belief is that a good photographer resolves the picture in the camera and only a few corrections In front of the screen.That attitude of strict approach and uncompromising dedication awarded me over 15 international awards (Kodak, B&W, governments, and others).Over the years I had multiple exhibitions in museums, and fine art galleries. I love learning and teaching photography. For me this is a lifetime journey.
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In the last two decades I concentrate mostly on landscape photography and Fine art B&W.