Member Bios
Group Admin
Tom Buckard
I am a retired high-end computer engineer, but photography has been my passion since well before my college years. My wife and I divide our time between Key West in the winter and Gainesville in the summer, although we also love escaping Florida’s heat and humidity by traveling during the summer months.
Photography has been a lifelong pursuit. I am a member of the Photographic Society of America (PSA), the Central Florida Chapter of the PSA, the Florida Camera Club Council, and three Florida camera clubs. Years ago, I even had my own darkroom, where I developed both black-and-white and color photographs.
I have been actively participating in photographic competitions for more than 45 years. I particularly enjoy competitions that include detailed critiques. They certainly require a thick skin, but I believe thoughtful, constructive feedback is one of the best ways to grow as photographers.
I enjoy photographing almost anything and are always eager to explore new subjects and places. One of our favorite destinations is Havana, Cuba, where we have been fortunate to spend many memorable weeks photographing its people, culture, architecture, and distinctive character. I also especially enjoy photographing New England, Savannah, Georgia, and the rookery at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine during the height of nesting season.
For me, photography is much more than taking pictures. It is a way to explore the world, preserve memories, and continually challenge ourselves to see familiar and unfamiliar subjects in new and creative ways.
Dennis Lee
I am a professional senior systems engineer in Los Angeles, CA with over two and a half decades in the industry. My first DSLR was a Nikon D80 that I had purchased for travel photography. After that, I had relied more on my smartphone for casual snapshots. A year ago, I decided to take photography more seriously and I hope to keep improving my composition and techniques. My interests include travel, landscape, architecture and street photography. Some of my favorite places for travel photography are New Zealand and Norway.
Michele Borgarelli, BPSA
I am originally from Italy and moved to USA in 2007. I now live in Virginia and work for Virginia Tech. My photography journey started when I received an Agfamatic 100 for my 10th birthday. Since then, I have been fascinated with photography as an art form, particularly because it allows an individual to convey their view of the world through a simple lens. After taking a hiatus, I finally returned to photography a few years ago. From that moment on, most of my free time was spent working on improving my photography. I have been experimenting with new approaches, reading about different techniques, and listening to the journeys of world-renowned photographers. I have also attended a number of photography workshops all around the world, and always sought the opportunity to submit my work for critique to other photographers. My interests include landscape, travel, black and white, and street photography.
Spring Zhang
I like traveling and spending time in nature and enjoy capturing the beauties I see around me with my camera. My main interest is landscape, followed by travel photography and wildlife. I also like B/W photography, especially minimalistic B/W.
I currently have a Canon R5 and a R5 Mark II with lenses ranging from 14mm - 500mm.
Mike Patterson
I retired last year after a career in journalism, followed by work in the non-profit sector. (Of course, some say journalism and non-profit are one and the same.) About half my time is spent on our family ranch in the Texas Hill Country where we raise angora goats (for mohair) and sheep (for wool). Many of my photos are from those environs.
My wife and I love to travel, primarily to New Mexico and the American Southwest. Those are other places where I love to shoot.
Although I've been photographing nearly my entire life, I'm at the point where I can devote more time and attention to developing the craft. A main goal of mine is to fine-tune my eye and improving my composition so that my photos stand out from appearing like snapshots. I am working very hard at self-discipline - slowing down, looking at various angles, composing the scene before shooting rather than my Click! Click! Click! rapid fire method.
Photography is great fun for me and a way to self-express myself. I have no illusions about being a professional. I shoot simply for the joy of it.
My equipment is rather low budget. I use a Canon T2i camera, various lenses -- mainly a 28-135 mm which is my "walk-around" lens - and the basic polarizing and ND filters. I also have a 400 mm zoom which I use occasionally for capturing shots of wildlife on our ranch. I do all of my processing on Lightroom.
Nigel Dalton, EPSA
I live in East Yorkshire, UK, I'm 70 years old.
I'm a retired Sales Manager and musician. My wife and I like walking, cruises, gardening and reading - in no particular order.
I like taking photographs of most things but have recently become more interested in nature and action photography. I use Fujifilm gear with various lenses and bits and pieces.
John Zhu
I like landscape photography and America's National Parks. I even wrote an App for national parks almost 10 years ago.
I live in San Diego and lived in Chicago for 5 years. Worked almost all my life as a computer software engineer. Landscape Photography and National Park Photography are the love of my life.