Dear members: just take some minutes to get to know your Board of Directors in the ASMP South Florida Chapter.
It is so interesting that now we have Board members under 40, an interesting input of fresh, young energy, providing new approaches to business and marketing, while still being lucky to count on the experience and knowledge from Board members who have helped the chapter for more than 10 years, and still feel the drive to keep helping and advising us.
It is just wonderful to also count with the presence of two women, ASMP members, working with us at the new Board. It is the very first time in years that women take the initiative and decide to join our efforts on the Board, and I personally thank them for this!
This team is working hard on producing a series of events that we hope will create a sparkle for motivation, inspiration and a refreshed feeling of community that we need to rebuild. We will keep you posted on these matters, and soon!
Without further a do, here is your ASMP SFL Board:
Meet Board Member and current President, Jorge Parra:
I have been an Advertising, Fashion and Fine Art photographer for over 24 years. My career dates back to my time and life in Venezuela, my country of origin. Fast forward, and since 2005 I have relocated myself and my family to the US, and have been living and working in Miami, rebuilding my career from scratch in an altogether new market for me.
Since my arrival in 2005, I got involved with the local SFL Chapter, under the leadership of Matt Pace, one year later was appointed Board Member,
2 years later I became Vice-President, and now my time has come to lead the group, assisted by a great team of new and young Board members, while gladly accompanied by the experienced fellows who keep their energy and determination focused on helping the SFL Chapter. Just recently, I have been invited to join the Advisory Board for Visual Arts Trends of the Arts Institute of Ft Lauderdale. I am also an active member of the Editorial Photographers Group.
"As a creative photographer, I specialize in transforming people, places and things into objects of desire for Advertising, Editorial and Fine Art Exhibitions. My blend of Fashion, Beauty and Fine Art Photography diffuses the line between personal and commercial work to create compelling visual messages, and I have fun doing it!"
Jorge Parra.
Meet Board Member: Matthew Pace. First Vice-President
I am a Corporate and Food photographer, based in Miami, South Florida, I shoot "People in Places" and "The Taste, Place, and Face of Food" for clients in the food industry. My background came from editorial, working with the LiaisonAgency and Getty Images both in New York. My travels have taken me everywhere exposing me to the to a myriad of situations that challenged and broadened my skills.That rich experience was the school that helped to make my career.
I have been with ASMP for 15 years serving as Board member,Forum Moderator,Program Director,President .Currently I am Vice-President and moderator of my own group "Fine Art Photographers" at LinkedIn Groups .. Through it all, I have met some of the finest photographers who I now call friends.
.."for me the camera is a passport allowing me access to places and lives, opening doors often inaccessable to most;a privileged trip welcomed and relished.With it I become witness,confessor, confident, and admirer of subject and place...From it,I accept the responsibility to the present and to the record for the future.Stealing a moment and holding it forever,as a portal to the future's past, making we photographers, thieves of time."
Meet Board Member: Aaron Ansarov. Second Vice-President
Aaron Ansarov spent 15 years in the US Navy as a magazine and combat photographer. After traveling the world and telling visual stories in both peacetime and war, Aaron retired early and transitioned to commercial life. Aaron has quickly made South Florida his home and enjoys the most challenging of assignments. After all, with a background like his, everything else is a day at the beach.
He is also the Founder and President of a new photo agency consisting of this generation's TOP military based photographers.
Meet Board member: Tom Salyer. Chapter Treasurer
"I'm a Miami based multimedia photographer and producer that blends my experience as a corporate photographer, creating environmental portraits of real people on location with my ability as a photojournalist capturing events as they unfold through traditional photojournalism, with a keen ear for storytelling sound.
After working as a staff photographer with United Press International covering international news events inthe 1980s, I've been freelance for the past 20 years, an ASMP member since 1993 and chapter board member since 1998.
Meet Board Member: Sandy Levy. Membership Chair.
Sandy was a photographic hobbyist starting about the age of 8, learning darkroom technique from his Dad. Sandy graduated from the University of Miami in 1968, studying photojournalism under the direction of Wilson Hicks, the first photo editor of LIFE Magazine. Since graduating college in 1968, Sandy has been a full-time professional photographer first working as a newspaper photographer and since 1971, in business for himself as a free-lance advertising photographer. Sandy has extensive Television, film and newspaper experience prior to founding Visual Impact Photography in 1971 including Chief Photographer for The Miami Beach Sun-Reporter Newspaper and a film cameraman for a local TV station. Since 1971 when opening Visual Impact Photography, Sandy has specialized in studio photography, primarily large format. Sandy has expertise in all types of panoramic photography, up to and including 360 degree on one piece of film or digitally.
Sandy also now specializes in high-end digital online virtual tours with clients such as Cunard Lines for the Virtual Tour of the Queen Mary II, the Miami-Dade College, The Miami-Dade Resources Recovery Facility, The Florida State College: Florida School of the Arts, and a number of industrial sites and professional offices.
Having wide experience in 3D still photography, Sandy currently holds a United States Patent on a 3D viewing process for large display transparencies.
Sandy has been active in a number of professional photographic organizations and is a member of The Professional Photographers of America, The American Society of Media Photographers and has served for many years on the Board of Directors of the South Florida Chapter of The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). Sandy is also Membership Chairman of ASMP.
Meet Board Member: Alexia Fodere. Secretary and Events Coordinator.
Alexia is a Miami-based Photographer, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, specializes in portraits, architecture, and photojournalism.
Initially trained as a photojournalist, working for the Miami Herald with some of the best photographers and photo editors in the industry.
Her work has been published in The New York Daily News, Wall Street Journal, Sun Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Chicago Tribune, Virginia Quarterly Review, Architectural Digest, Florida Design, Elle Décor, The Swiss Press and the Associated Press among others.
Meet Board Member: Benjamin Rusnak
Benjamin Rusnak is a humanitarian photojournalist. Since 2000, he has documented poverty in the Caribbean and Latin America as staff photographer for Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development agency in the United States, based in Coconut Creek, FL. He brought a decade of newspaper experience to telling the stories of those in need in the developing world.
His work has been recognized by Pictures of the Year International, the Best of Photojournalism, the International Photography Awards, the New York Photo Awards, Photo District News, the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, the Alexia Foundation and the China International Press Photo Contest. In 2008, Rusnak tied himself for first place to win the prestigious Gordon Parks Award. In 2009, his exhibition of Dreams & Tempests premiered as part of the citywide festival, Atlanta Celebrates Photography. In 2010, Rusnak was honored with InterAction's Effective Assistance Award for humanitarian photography. Learn how to help: www.foodforthepoor.org
Meet Board Member Scherley Busch:
Scherley Busch is best known for her documentary photography and editorial portraiture. Her photographic career spans over 20 years in advertising, annual report, fine art, architectural/interiors, journalistic/event photography and portraiture. Her passion for visual communication has recently expanded to involve multi media assignments.
Selected by Art in Public Places to exhibit her fine art photography in Miami International Airport and Tallahassee Artport Galleries, Scherley’s honors also include invitations from Florida Governors Crist and Chiles to exhibit in the state Capitol and Governor’s Mansion. She has also been recognized by the Florida State Attorney General for her portrait contribution to the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame; exhibited a one woman show in the United States Senate Russell Rotunda, Washington, D.C.; and received ADDY awards for her commercial photography.
Scherley has lectured at the University of Miami and Miami Dade Community College. Her work appears in national and international magazines and in corporate advertising as well as in private and public art collections, galleries and museums. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, attended the University of Salamanca, Spain and New York University.
Scherley's Website: scherleybuschstudios.com
Meet Board Member Joe Woolf:
I got my first camera when I was 5. I first used the darkroom when I was 14. I was fascinated with the idea of painting with light.
With a BFA from RIT and 10+ years of experience, I am able to achieve creative vision and quality for each of my clients. Because of my love of photography, it shows in my work.
Joe's website is: www.woolf-photography.com/
Meet board member David Ramos:
I grew up in South Florida, and still live in Hollywood between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. I love this area and like to share it with all of my friends, old and new. I have been taking photos since 1986, ever since I took my first photography class. I discovered I have a passion for it and I that I love to create images to share and enjoy with others. With digital technology my wife and I have rediscovered the photographic medium and have surrounded ourselves with others that use photography to express their creative vision, and have entered a new phase of self expression.
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" We live here, we shoot here, Find us here"
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Thanks everyone!!
The ASMP SFL Board.
