Photography Club Officers 2008

President: Larry Mart. 2008 will be Larry's third year living in Sun City and 50th year of photography as both a hobby and a profession. After graduating from the Brooks Institute of Photographic Art & Science in California, he was offered a job in Dallas as a photographer specializing in advertising. Now retired, Larry continues to enjoy photography as a hobby.

Director of Communications: Buddy Lerch Ever since he and his dad went in "halfsies" on a Canonet QL camera when he was in junior high, Buddy was hooked on photography. His mom, an artist, imparted her genes and interest, leading the young cartoonist and pen & ink artist to learn many design elements, augmented by art and photography instruction through early school and eventually college. Through those years his interest and skill in photography also grew, including black & white darkroom work in high school and military photojournalism in his U.S. Air Force stint.

Having moved to Sun City two years ago to help care for his aging father, Buddy entered the digital age and loves the freedom from film developing costs. He enjoys many types and styles of photography, including nature, reflections, high contrast, macro, perspective, atypical viewpoints and digital manipulation. He says he never wants to stop learning new techniques, for which he is thankful to the Sun City Photography SIG.

Past President: Barbara Wilder – Barbara has been involved in the arts most of her life. Starting around 1965, she began taking painting and life drawing classes, using acrylics as her main medium. She then began taking pottery lessons which led to a 35 year career as a potter. She and her first husband, John Wisnewski had a studio and gallery in Corpus Christi, plus they entered many juried art shows throughout the United States. After his death, a move to Sun City and remarriage, photography became her passion. Her husband, Roddy Wilder, is a professional photographer and a great partner on their photo jaunts.

Director of Education: Charlie Byers. Charlie and Rosemary came to Sun City three and-a-half years ago from brief retirements in California and Mexico. Initially Rosemary owned the only functioning camera in the family. Charlie found interests in the woodshop, horticulture and computer clubs. Last year he received an experienced digital camera, began taking pictures again, and gravitated to a home in the Photography Club. He wishes to thank Joe for the camera and the club for a warm welcome.

Vice-President: Jim Bilbro We arrived in Sun City six years ago and have really enjoyed it, it was the right place at the right time. I joined the Photography Club four years ago to improve my photography skills and I've received more education and support than I would have ever imagined. It is still a work in progress to get better and to produce artistic photos that are able to tell a story without words. Eight years ago I bought my first digital
camera, a 2.1 megapixel Canon Powershot and have really embraced the digital technology. So much so that I taught the Digital Camera class for the Computer Club for three years and assisted the Digital Camera SIG leader for four years with the group. With digital cameras you soon gravitate to photo editing and enhancing software and that lead me into teaching a Photoshop class for the Computer Club, now into my third year. Back in my working days I was always involved with technical products and that has helped me better understand digital photography and Photoshop. My goal is to get better with composition and subject selection so that I don't have to be tethered to the computer and Photoshop, even though I like working with Photoshop.