Photographer Profiles - Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, 2024
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Joe Lawrence: I semi-retired to Bend, Oregon a few months ago after 34 years in the auto industry, the last 11 as COO of Porsche Cars North America. Cars are a passion, as is photography and geography. I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Geography while doing a bit of automotive consulting. Mainly I’m spending as much time as possible outdoors bicycling, running, hiking (with my camera), and skiing.
I’ve backpacked the entire Colorado Trail, most of the Muir Trail, and most recently California’s Loat Coast Trail, lugging two DSLRs along the way. I’m looking forward to photographing with some pros and advancing my technique in perhaps my favorite landscape — the Eastern Sierra.
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Hi everyone. I’m Nina. I’ve had a camera within arm’s reach for over 50 years. Always.
My first job was working for 4 years or so as a photographer’s assistant back in the 70’s. We were just outside of Manhattan and went in regularly. He did assignment work - mostly book jackets, cookbook photos and record covers, and ran a small model agency on the side.
We did a lot of studio portrait work, so I had a good overview of the business. I’d probably still be working for him if he hadn’t moved away. He loaned me a Nikon and I used it for years until I bought my own. Still shooting Nikon. Too lazy, old to change.
The tech end has never really interested me. It’s the composition and storytelling that you can do with photos that I love.
When I shot film, I always bought 20-25 rolls at a time. When I traveled every summer, I’d bring 25 rolls with me, just in case. Now I bring 512 gig fast cards. I haven’t changed much. I’ve got 4 cards with me for this trip. And bought a spare 4TB external just in case.
I shamelessly take way more images than most people (but never in burst mode) and I rarely delete anything. I always figure my editing skills keep getting better, so why toss anything if it could be useful later to help tell a story or fill-in gaps between my better images. I have been known to go back and re-edit images I shot 20 years ago.
Jay Maisel described me best. I have telephoto eyes. I lug around my D500 with a 200-500 on it like other people carry a 50mm. I know it’s way too heavy and a huge pain, but it comes closest to capturing the world the way I see it.
I use my iPhone for anything wide angle. I dutifully carry a 70-200 and a 35mm 1.8 with me, but only out of guilt. (The 70-200 is great when the 200-500 is just too big to get an image)
I publish Photo Authority Magazine in the Apple App Store and Google Play. It‘s an entirely new kind of photography magazine, written by photographers for photographers who love to travel for the specific purpose of taking pictures.
It’s kinda like Nat Geo Travel crossed with Lonely Planet and Arizona Highways, featuring one place only for each issue, and some of the best world class photo teachers who lead trips there. Each issue is a deep dive into one awesome place to go shooting, and all the stuff you’d want to know before you go. Along with hundreds of great photos of the place to give you a broad sense of images you could take there.
Ken Rockwell is our Technical Editor, and we republish a couple of his articles in each issue; one related to a great piece of gear appropriate for the location. The other article about a photography concept that would be helpful to remember on your trip.
Geek that I am, for fun I’ve studied online and off line marketing for the last 10+ years and love talking about business. Sadly, I’m not very good at small talk, so please forgive me if I wander off if you start talking about sports or kids…
I live on the east end of Long Island NY, in the heart of the Hamptons. I’ve owned and run a custom picture frame shop since 1980, so I’ve had the benefit of looking at art for a living. It has also enabled me to spend just shy of a month in 30+ countries for the sheer pleasure of taking photos. (I always leave a couple days free in case flights get canceled - never want to overstay my visa) For most of my life, I traveled alone. The last ten years or so I have made a point to travel with other like minded photographers and am looking forward to meeting you all : )
(Thanks to Dave for the photo he took of me a couple weeks ago.)
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Gerardo (Jerry) Cárdenas: Industrial engineer that turned into a Restaurant Manager. We own and manage a chain of restaurants with Argentine and Japanese brands in México.
I take most of my brands' food pictures but definitely prefer and enjoy much more taking nature and travel photography. I kind of work all day, all year... but when I am not, I am travelling or hiking trails with my camera, my two children (Javier 11 and Sofia 8) and my wife (she doesn't like hiking haha).
We have just arrived from Japan where we travelled all around the country in August. I climbed Mount Fuji with my son, and took the family to the Japanese alps and countless beautiful places. I believe that the best thing that I can leave behind when I am gone is memories, so I am trying to create the most unforgettable experiences for my kids and document them.
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Jeri McGee
Jeri from Phoenix, looking forward to weather under 100 degrees. I previously attended your Autumn in Yosemite course, 10/21, and really enjoyed that time in an amazing place. Still consider myself a beginner in photography, but always interested in learning new tips and techniques. See you soon!
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My name is Walt Bizzare, the son of Alfred - an Italian born in Los Angeles - and my mother Velma from Pacific Grove, Ca. I grew up mostly in LA then joined the Army and was stationed in France for 2 1/2 years.
Upon returning I worked my way through college and have a degree in Math from Cal State Fullerton. My last job was at Lawrence Livermore Lab as a computer scientist. I am now retired and living in Orinda, CA with my partner Susan Lucier.
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My name is Russell Williams. I learned the basics of Photography at 11, shooting with my dad’s 35mm Leica-copy rangefinder, and using the leftover B&W film, paper, and chemicals in his architectural office. I rarely got just what I wanted in the unmodified negative, and was frustrated by my limited ability to improve things in the darkroom. I loved color, but my ability to modify it was even more limited. So when Photoshop came along I was hooked.
In 1997, I joined the Photoshop engineering team and spent 25 years building Photoshop 5.0 through Photoshop 2023, with over a decade as Chief Architect. My tools have long since outpaced my creative vision, inspiration, and imagination. It's those things I'm hoping to improve in this workshop.
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My name is Jefferson Rice. I’m 75 and live in Sebastopol, California and have been a woodworker most of my life, specializing in design interiors, stairs, cabinets, and furniture. I am now retired with a beautiful shop at home and do work for one very special client: my wife.
Besides woodworking, I have been taking photographs since high-school, have studied at San Francisco Art Institute, and have collected thousands of images, mostly chronicling my life: family and friends, camping and hiking, traveling, building our house, motorcycle trips, gardening, etc.
Though I have a fair amount of experience, I tend to rely too much on Program and Auto modes and am looking for more confidence in getting the best shot I can in the camera before I go to editing and hope this quest in the Eastern Sierra will help.
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Julian and Doreen Solomons:
Julian has been a keen photographer since age 7 – he even remembers working with Kodachrome at 10 ASA! Grew up in London, UK, came to California 43 years ago. Graduated to DSLRs about 50 years ago, and now mirrorless. Loves travel photography, landscapes, BIF, and GoPro video!
Doreen loves photography, and is happily surprised at some of the amazing shots she gets with her iPhone. On this trip is going to be very careful with Julians Leica Q2!
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Kathy Meyer - I have either participated or been an instructor with Dave Wyman’s photo adventures since 1984. In fact, I decided to move to the Eastern Sierra after a few photography workshops convinced me it was one of the most beautiful places in the country.
I’m retired after a life of many careers and experiences. I consider myself mostly a nomad now, traveling the west in her van with my dog Poco — hiking, exploring, photographing, and enjoying life.
Although I have used a wide variety of camera formats and film, I now uses my iPhone exclusively.
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Richard Scaife - I live in Las Vegas and am retired from living in Napa Valley and working as a guide for a bicycle tour company.
I have always taken photos and for most of my life I used point and shoot and disposables. When Covid happened I decided to get a Sony a6400 and some lens options after reading Ken's reviews. The a6400 is my digital camera that I take with me for lots of my photo adventures around Las Vegas and on my travels.
I still shoot film and use everything from Minox spy cameras to 110, 35, 620, 120 in a variety of film stocks in classic vintage and newer plastic toy Lomography style cameras. I develop and scan my black and white film. I am "YouTube Trained" on all of it.
On this trip I want to learn some photo skills and see the world with the eyes and help of other photographers.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigrickstuart/
https://www.lomography.com/homes/lasvegaslomo
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My name is Jorge Rivera, I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico until 2009 when I moved to the Bay Area to work in the Tech industry. I’m an engineer with deep love for gadgets and geeky stuff.
I love exploring the outdoors with my family — especially Yosemite which is our happy place in California. My love for photography grew strong when my daughter was born and I’ve been trying to learn and have fun with it ever since. Looking forward to this weekend with amazing experts and like minded photographers.