Member Bios
Group Admin
Bev Caine
I began my interest in photography about 1977 when we were planning a trip to Europe and I threatened my husband, telling him if he fell over another bench while taking pictures I would leave him there. He suggested I take a course. I did, After my first course, I submitted a photo I took in Madeira to a local contest and took first place winning a week in Mexico, and the rest is history.
I am a semi-retired travel agent, living in Boynton Beach, FL., and my love of travel offers me many opportunities to enjoy my photography hobby. I also enjoy photographing people and flowers.
Charissa Lansing
My interest in photography as a personal hobby was launched about ten years ago. I put aside the disposable film cameras (that I purchased frequently for making family snapshots) and invested in a point-and-shoot, digital camera. My purpose was to make flower images to send to my mom, who could no longer work in her beloved garden due to a progressive illness. In the spring of 2009, I wanted more control over my images and invested in a DSLR camera (Canon Rebel XSI) and a seminar with a local photographer to learn some photography basics. The following spring I joined our local camera club and a few months later the PSA. One valuable benefit of joining the PSA was the opportunity to complete Jon Fishback's beginner and later some advanced photography courses!
My husband and I have been married for 45 years and have lived in Champaign, Illinois, a rural community and university town, for the past 30 years. We love to travel when time allows. I am an emeriti professor at the university here with expertise in speech and hearing science. My research has focused on auditory rehabilitation, on topics such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, auditory-visual speech perception, and the impact of hearing loss on the quality of life.
There are many facets of photography that interest me, although making images of flowers is probably my favorite subject. I am intrigued by close-up and macro photography. I hope to learn from the members of the digital dialogue study group and improve my technical skills, image composition, and the impact of my images. I am learning what it is to be a photographer and strive to become a keen observer of nature and succeed at sharing what I see.
John Doyle
PHOTO BIOGRAPHY
OF
JOHN F. DOYLE
As a self-taught, serious amateur photographer for over thirty-five years, I have come to realize what appeals to me about photography. It permits me to be creative on my own terms, which in turn allows me to capture beauty when I see it. The similarity of photography to my regular profession of perfumer is quite apparent in the sense that you need knowledge of the past, technical grounding and of course, creativity.
My favorite subjects are sunsets, flowers, and photojournalism. I work both in color and black and white and use a 35 mm camera, a medium format camera, and recently a digital camera.
I have entered art shows in the tri-state region, with some degree of success, and look forward to deepening my knowledge of this wonderful artistic medium.
JFD
Mary Ellen Rescek
My photography journey started in 2018 when I received a Sony a6000 as a birthday gift and took an "Out of the Box" photography class at the Chicago Botanical Garden (CBG). Since then, I have taken numerous classes at the CBG and have obtained a certificate in Nature and Landscape Photography. I am an avid gardener and enjoy taking images of flowers, trees, nature and wildlife.
Currently, I use a Sony A7IV camera for most images, and my go to lenses are a Sony f4/24-105 mm, Sony 70-300 mm, and recently a Sony 90 mm macro.
Photography is a hobby for me, as I am a retired Publication Manager with eleven grandchildren. I seek to improve my photography skills by participating in occasional contests and learning from other photographers. I am a member of the Lake County Camera Club (LCCC) and a LCCC delegate for the Chicago Area Camera Club Association, and a new member of the Riverwoods Nature
Photography Society (RNPS). I enjoy traveling and have participated in a Sandhill
Crane Migration Photography activity in Kearny, Nebraska, and have traveled on
photography excursions with members of the LCCC and RNPS.
Donald Darling Jr
I started my photography hobby in the mid 1990's. I have interests in closeup/macro photography; scenic, and some sporting events when I get a chance. I do a lot of flower photography because one of my wife's hobbies is flower gardening. So, I have many ready subjects just outside my door. For some reason I have a disinclination to photograph people, even candid imagery. So, you'll not likely see images from me with people as the subject.
I am a member of the Eastern Maine Camera Club (EMCC). I joined a little over 20 years ago. I was club president for a time, and I'm the correspondence secretary. I manage our participation in Projected Image competitions with the New England Camera Club Council.
I've been in PSA for a similar amount of time as EMCC. I am a participant in one of the PID groups dating back to slide film days. I miss slide film by the way, and I've been tempted to shoot a roll or two just to see if doing so is as enjoyable as I remember
I shoot Nikon gear. One mirrorless (little Z 50 with two kit lenses) and two DSLR's (D750 and D90) with an assortment of film era Nikon lenses and a few "crop sensor" lenses from Tamron, Tokina and Nikon.
I am looking forward to participating in this study group, and will welcome your commentary on my work. I am good friends with Bev Caine and will enjoy meeting you, even if it's only via the Ethernet!!.
Barbara Asacker
Greetings,
I live in Massachusetts. I enjoyed taking photos for many years. My first camera was a Kodak Instamatic. In 2016 I purchased a DSLR, joined a camera club, and learned how to properly use my camera. It opened up a new world of photography. My learning journey began and continues.
I shoot with a Nikon D500, Nikon D850, and Nikon Z6 ll.
Jennifer Haralamos
Hi everyone!
I have been seriously interested in photography for ~20 years. What started as shooting athletics for our local school district many years ago quickly evolved to a passion for shooting bees in flight, flowers, landscapes, cityscapes, and the occasional portrait session.
I belong to the Photography Club of Greater Cincinnati, and have a strong desire to continue learning all I can about my craft. I look forward to participating in this group.