Member Bios
Group Administrator
Dr Isaac Vaisman, PPSA
Dr. Isaac Vaisman, PPSA
I am a native of Caracas-Venezuela, born and raised there. I still am a semiretired physician (Radiation Oncologist) and a self-educated photographer since the mid-sixties. As a teenager I was the youngest member of the Foto Club Caracas. Winner of the first price in black and white prints in all three camera clubs of Venezuela, the same year. Did my own black and white processing and printing for many years, until I finished medical school and came to the US for postgraduate training in the 70's.
After a very long gap, started with digital photography in the early 2000's and more involved since I acquired my first digital Nikon D300 . I am a "Nikonian" by conviction. Have participated in many competitions and received several awards.
I joined the first Camera Club in Florida in 2008: Broward Camera Club, of which I was President for four years (2013 to 2016). Also was a member of the Pines West Camera Club, and currently I only attend the Coral Springs Camera Club that offers activities of interest.
I joined PSA in 2011. Completed the course of Image Evaluation a few years ago, and most recently (March 2021) the Advanced Photo Travel Course and was an instructor for a while. Appointed as 2nd Vicechair of the PSA Photo Travel Division in 2021 and Director of all the Photo Travel Image Discussion Groups.
I am an active member on four of the PID Digital Dialogue groups: 04 (General Photography), 58 (street Scenes), 59 (Sport) and 72 (Nature +). I am the administrator of groups 58 and 72. I am also a member of the PSA PTD (Travel Photography) group 04 and the PJ (Photojournalism) of Human Interest group 5 of which I am also the Administrator.
Early in 2022 I obtained my ROPA distinction QPSA, and in October 2022 my ROPA distinction PPSA. I hold 3 stars in Nature Exhibitions, 3 stars in Monochrome Class, 3 stars in Color Class, 3 star in Photo Travel Exhibitions and 1 star in Photojournalism.
Ardeth Carlson
I got my first camera-a green box "Snappy" from Sears & Roebuck-in 1962 and have loved photography ever since. My husband bought my first SLR, an Olympus OM-10, when I was expecting our first child. When that daughter was off to college, I bought a Nikon Pronea 6i, which had several unique features, and when I got my first DSLR, it was a Nikon, the D40. I now shoot with a Nikon D850, and my two go-to lenses, especially when traveling, are my Nikon 18-300 and Sigma Contemporary 150-600.
I have continued to illustrate my life's journey through photography ever since that first camera, and I'm that mom/auntie who was taking pictures at every family event! After careers in court reporting (verbatim transcription using a stenotype machine, not news journalism), medical transcription, and copy editing, I retired in 2015 and since then have had more time to expand my photographic interests.
Bird photography is a specialty, and I have created an annual 240-page bird photo book every year since 2016, using Blurb.com. I also enjoy general wildlife, landscapes, flowers, and macro/closeup, almost anything except studio and posed portraiture. Having started out with what is essentially human interest images, that remains one of my major joys, and I am always noticing those special moments in ordinary life wherever I go. In addition to reality photography, I love working with Adobe Photoshop to create an artistic vision. I share many of my photos on Flickr.com.
I am a member of the Loveland Photographic Society in Loveland, Colorado, serving as the newsletter editor and currently in my second year (2024) as president of the club. I joined PSA in 2018 and am also a member of the new Colorado Chapter of PSA. I received a certificate from the PSA Image Analysis course a few years ago and have also received first-place awards in the PSA Photojournalism Quarterlies in 2022. I look forward to sharing an interest in photojournalism with this dialogue group.
Judith Ponti-Sgargi, QPSA, BPSA
I grew up and worked in Toronto, retired from a career in provincial government and moved to Vancouver Island to enjoy sailing. Then we moved to London Ontario be live close to family.
In my 30s I did some photography but put this aside to complete my MBA studies and concentrate on my career.
In 2016, I joined the London Camera Club and in October 2017 PSA. I am a member of DSG 52 Competitive Images, DSG 28 Street Photography, DSG 23 Portraits and PJ IDG 3 and 5. I earned my QPSA in June 2022, and BPSA in Dec. 2023.
I use a variety of editing software: LR, PS, Nik, and Topaz, and luminosity masking/
Jamie Federick
I am originally from Laurel, Mississippi (the HGTV Hometown) but for the past 17 years have lived in Hot Springs Village, AR via Dallas, TX.
When I was no more than 6 years old, I had a small Brownie Instamatic camera. I loved arranging my dolls and taking photos of them. I really can never remember a time that I did not have the use of a camera. I have joked that through my photography I can remember my life.
I have always loved to create and took many art lessons through school. When I realized my talents were better utilized through photography instead of painting, I invested in much better equipment and joined the Camera Club to pursue my passion.
Composition of images has always intrigued me, and it seems that I am looking at the world through those eyes. I tend to lean toward architecture, shapes, textures and love to do macro work. Even though I love to photograph nature, flowers, sunsets, family events and my pet, my work largely encompasses doorways, buildings, and interesting people. I am constantly learning more about lighting, camera settings and post processing in Lightroom. I shoot with a Canon T6i.
I have enjoyed using some of the artistic enhancements in post processing that make my work have an artistic flair. We certainly cannot improve on God's beauty, but it is a challenge to bring it into a frame, so others can enjoy my personal photographic expression.
Karen Kohn
I am a member of the Thousand Oaks Photography club. We take field trips about every two months. I love taking pictures of flowers, beautiful birds, like flamingos, and I also have started taking street photography.
I look forward to participating with others and look at their photos.
Vinaya Mathews, PPSA
After working with State Bank of India, the leading bank in India, for 31 years, Vinaya Mathews decided to quit her job in 2014, from the position of Chief Manager, to pursue her two passions, working for the under-privileged and photography.
Her journey in the field of photography started with a basic course conducted by Late Prof. Manohar Desai, the Founder Director of National Institute of Photography, in Mumbai, India, in the year 2004. With the feel of a camera in hand, she discovered her over-arching love for photography. It took her 10 long restless years to finally free herself from the bonds of a demanding career and follow her passion.
In March 2018, she attended 12th batch of 'Gurukul Of Photographic Art' where she learned philosophy of photography from an eminent photographer Dr Shivji Joshi. She learned five mantras of photography from him i.e. 'Line, Light, Life, Vision & Visualization'.
During last six years, she has earned distinction 'Excellence FIAP' (EFIAP) from 'The International Federation of Photographic Art' Belgium, 'Proficiency Photographic Society of America (PPSA)', 'Gold Exhibitor of APU (GAPU) from Asia Photographers Union, 'Master of Federation Of Indian Photography (MFIP) & 'MFIP - Nature'.
Her weekly column named 'Photography in easy words' was published in a Marathi newspaper for thirteen consecutive weeks. She has also been a judge for National & International salons.
She idolises ex-president of India, late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and his beautiful quote "Dream is not that you see in sleep, Dream is something that does not let you sleep" is a reverberating source of inspiration for her.
Her dream is to gain distinctive knowledge and experience in the field to become an accomplished photographer.
Sergio Mussini
I am from the city of Buenos Aires in Argentina and I have lived in the city of Malmö in Sweden for just over 2 years.
I started photographing in 2002 with a Canon EOS 500 N analog camera and 4 years later I bought my first digital camera, also from the Canon line, and since then I consider myself a Canonist.
I studied basic photography at the Fotoclub Argentino and I also studied lighting for portraits at the Motivarte School, both schools in Buenos Aires.
For 10 years I worked as a photographer at rock concerts in Argentina.
I worked as a photography teacher teaching private courses for 8 years in the city of Buenos Aires, and I was also a photography teacher in the courses of the Directorate of Culture of the Municipality of Ituzaingó in Buenos Aires for 3 years. I have also been a photographer for companies related to gastronomy.
In 2018 I began a trip through Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador photographing their cultures, people, customs, etc. On that trip that lasted a year, I gave photography talks in the cities of Cuenca - Ecuador, in Cusco - Peru and in Buenos Aires - Argentina.
In the two years that I have been living in Sweden I have done street photography in black and white since I like to compose my images with lights and shadows, geometric shapes, reflections, etc.
Last year I traveled through Asia for 6 months, visiting India, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand where I was able to take images of their people and customs. I am passionate about taking portraits of ordinary people on the street when I travel.
Most of my photographs are single shots in RAW format.
I hope and wish to be able to contribute my knowledge and learn from you as well.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of this group.