Apr. 2002
President's
Message
Focus On...
Focus On...
Fred Zell
For me, photography has been an ongoing passion. As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, I had a camera to capture the joys of childhood such as a trip to the zoo, visits to parks, and fishing trips with my Dad. My mother and father took me to Niagara Falls when I was ten and I documented the trip with photos. With that, my life of traveling and documenting my experiences had begun. Upon graduation from Indiana University's Bloomington Campus and securing employment as a Social Studies teacher and soccer coach in the old Alfred I. Dupont School District, my first two purchases were a brand new 1963 Dodge Dart GT and a Minolta camera. I have carried a camera with me ever since. Summer employment as a chauffeur took me on my first trip around the US, Mexico and Canada. I have spent the rest of my life exploring North America and, on occasion, Europe.
The major characters in my life are my wife and travel companion, Nancy, my four children, Danny, Karen, Kenny and Lydia, my seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. All of these have been photographed through the many phases and special occasions of their lives. Only recently has my wife taken up designing scrapbooks of pictures on each one. The collages and humorous comments bring all of these numerous photos back to life and give added appreciation to my lifelong documentation.
Although I tend to enjoy scenic photography most, it was my picture, Daisies, that won a medal in the recent WIEP. Winning the DVCCC Medal was the greatest thrill of my photographic career. It was all the more surprising because I have only been a member of the DCC for two years and have only been entering the monthly print competitions since this fall. Working with and getting to know other members as they prepared the prints for judging, gave me a better realization of the many talented and devoted people who belong to this club. I want to thank all of those individuals who have given so freely of their time this year, and for some many years, to bring this show to life. As I contemplate retirement, I look forward to pursuing my photography and my association with this club for years to come.