Focus Session Special Guest Harmon Kaplan – July 9 at 9:30 am
It is said that some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. I feel that I was born with a camera in my hands! When I was four years old I began photographing with my father ‘s Leica. It was the start of a lifetime addiction. By the time I was nine years old I had my first darkroom. I looked for opportunities to make photographs …. in school, at home or on vacation.
At age 11 I worked for a newspaper photographer and worked “wet-printing for the early edition of the paper. I apprenticed for a fine-art photographer in Vermont and worked as an assistant for a commercial/industrial photography studio. Photography has offered me the opportunity to continue learning and challenging my vision. Today I find myself photographing people, buildings, landscapes, street scenes, and the list goes on and on!
I have been lucky to have photographs in the collections of President George Bush, Mayor Giuliani and Kirk Douglas as well as in many private collections. I have had solo shows in Piermont, NY, Secaucus, NJ, Morristown, NJ and Brooklyn, NY.
To this day (and hopefully a lot longer) I carry a camera wherever I go, continuing to find subjects to photograph. It is a challenge that never ends. For 2016, I have been lucky to have been chosen as an Honorary Luminary for Panasonic Lumix.
Recently I have entered the world of digital photography (kicking and screaming) I still maintain my darkroom and shoot with film when I need to slow down and have my day of Zen. With the constantly evolving technology there has never been a time when advice and information has been needed more. The corner camera store has vanished and the Internet has forced many brick and mortar stores out of business. Luckily there are a
few holdouts where one can find information and help. Sadly some stores offer help from salespeople who have photography degrees from universities but no real world experience. Some offer salespeople who have graduate degrees from the photography university of experience and hard knocks. Luckily Bergen County Camera falls into the latter. They offer a chance to speak with people who have lived in the world of photography, used the equipment in the real world situations. In addition you can always find great people at the free Saturday focus sessions. Spend an hour and leave with newfound information as well as some free coffee and Munchkins. It doesn’t get better than that!
{Focus session take place most Saturdays at 9:30 am – full schedule}
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