A new exhibition will adorn our Art Wall in January and February. A set of 30 prints showcasing both the stunning beauty of nature and striking cityscapes will be available to view and purchase. Take a moment to allow the talents of the Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County to transport you to serene and mysterious scenes. Fourteen artists from the group are represented and several of the artists will be on hand for the opening reception to introduce you to their work.
We hope you will join us at the reception after the service on Sunday, February 1st, in Forbes Hall. All works are for sale and a portion of the proceeds go directly to supporting UUSM.
Please enjoy learning more about some of our guest artists from their statements below.
Mel Carll
I am a Southern California based photographer who enjoys every aspect of photography. My photography adventures started in 2005 and has only picked up steam since, including trips to South Africa, Botswana, Antarctica and Kenya. I am currently the Executive Director of the American Society of Photographers (ASP). I am also a Past President and Treasurer of Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County. I have earned my Master Photographer degree, Craftsman Degree and Certified Professional Photographer degree with PPA. I have received image awards with PPA, PPC and PPLAC, including the 2025 Photographer of the Year with Professional Photographers of California. In 2010 l had images entered into the permanent collection of the California African American Museum as part of the Allensworth, A Place, A People, A Story exhibit.
Liz Chalmers
Liz has been a portrait photographer for over twenty years. She also delights in capturing landscapes, where nearly every scene offers breathtaking vistas and quiet moments of reflection. Free from the need to pose people, chase a dog’s attention, or manage a child’s tantrums, Liz enjoys the slower pace of landscape photography becomes a pause–a chance to savor the light, the textures, and the fleeting magic of the moment.
Frank Damon
I developed an interest in photography when I was a teenager. I then became a lawyer and for many years did not pick up a camera. But, the dawning of the digital era intrigued me and wrapped its technical arms around me and dragged me in. I have always been amazed by what the camera could do but my left brain was tugging with more intensity than my right brain, which presented me with a creative challenge. When I photograph landscape and cityscape, I see the beauty, serenity, chaos and humor that not only intrigues and fascinates me, but implores me to continue. The camera is a merely a tool which allows me to explore and frame the world as I see it. The vision of what I see and experience is the resulting photograph. And with the assistance of modern technology, there are no limits to what can be pursued and achieved. I love photographing landscapes and all things Los Angeles, which is an endlessly interesting city, full of beauty, mystery, light and dark.
Heather Dinkins
For the past 20+ years Heather Dinkins has been living within the world of VFX as a Post Production professional. Before joining PPLAC in February 2024, She described herself as a vacationing photographer which meant taking half of the vacation to re-learn her equipment and buttons on her beloved cameras. When the Artist and Writer’s strikes happened in 2023, she took this time as an opportunity to embrace the freedom it provided and threw herself into learning the proper photography techniques that taught her how to photograph & process the images you see today. When she’s not off capturing nature for personal enjoyment, her primary focus now is working with families and couples for a fun day of “personality portraits”.
Leslie Geffen
I am a native Los Angeleno – Mar Vista Elementary, Venice High School, UCLA. After I retired as a Mirman School administrator in 2012, I tiptoed into an art class at a local community college, which opened up a new world to this English major. In the following years, I took numerous drawing and watercolor courses, learning about composition, color, perspective and more. At the same time, I started to travel, taking the usual “tourist photos.” Gradually I began to incorporate the principles I’d learned in art classes into my photography. I became seriously interested in and committed to photography during the pandemic, when I took many classes and webinars and began to focus on this domain. After the pandemic, I was able to implement what I’d learned as I resumed my travels. I love how photography offers continual growth, and enjoy experimenting with new techniques like Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). Photography brings me much joy, and I love seeing the enthusiasm and delight of my viewers when I share my photos.
John Grusd – M.Photog. Cr. M-PPC
Graduating from university with a degree in Industrial Design, my working life has led me through the creative disciplines of design, special effects for television, advertising graphics, video games and animation. A professional life in and around the arts as well as a lifelong student of art history has pointed me toward an aesthetic that bridges many creative styles. Design, painting, drawing, sculpture, graphics and illustration as well as photography influence what I try to achieve through the viewfinder. This broad foundation in art allows me to find inspiration in traditional compositions as well as modern non-representational approaches.
Besides responding to the world around me and thus creating images, I also guide photographic adventures and instruct photography workshops. For me, sharing my favorite places and knowledge with others is as rewarding as anything else I do.
I’ll see you out there!
Tim Hintz
My values and interest were formed in my hometown of Elmira, NY, a small, past-its-prime industrial city in upstate New York. After college at Clarkson University and graduate school at The University of Michigan, I entered a forty-year career in finance, mainly commercial banking. Retired for eight years, I now live in Torrance. My pursuits include chasing Grandkids, woodworking, photography, and gardening. With my life partner, Gayle Corwin, I enjoy travel, and attending local concerts and stage productions.
Andrew Lewis
Andrew Lewis started learning photography in seventh grade. He continued photography and earned an Associate’s Degree in Commercial Photography from Antelope Valley College in the Fall of 2022. He was assistant editor for his junior high school yearbook and chief photographer for his high school yearbook. His first job during college was as a portrait photographer for a national retail chain. After over twenty years in the telecommunications industry, Andrew has returned to photography and is a member of Professional Photographers of America, Professional Photographers of California, Santa Clarita Valley Photographers Association, Lancaster Photography Association, and the Acton Agua Dulce Artists Association. He is vice-president of the Lancaster Photography Association, secretary of the Professional Photographers of California, and served as president of the Antelope Valley College Photography Club. Andrew loves to travel, and enjoys photographing landscapes, motorsports, aviation, and natural events. He also collaborates with other photographers and is always excited to expand his knowledge and experiences. Andrew has earned the Master of Photography Degree and title of Certified Professional Photographer from the Professional Photographers of America.
Thomas “Chris” Martens Landscape Photography on Canvas
My photography is a reflection of my life. This world holds many wonders, beauty and excitement. Images are around us, near us, and in us, and if I don’t stop and capture the moment it is lost to Time. Those wonders are made by nature and mankind hopefully working in a synergistic harmony and relationship. As we go through life we have a tendency to become desensitized to our surroundings. We begin to take things for granted, we look past them as we go about our daily lives. In my landscape photography I seek out those forgotten, or unappreciated wonders to remind us of the beauty and uniqueness that is right out the front door.
Ira Mintz
After practicing radiology for 40 years, and learning about the “insides” of patients, I decided to change my life and observe from the “outside.”
Since my passion is photography, and since I am now retired, I wanted to “give back” in a more meaningful way…Therefore, I merged these together…
Today I volunteer my photography skills for 6 or 7 charity organizations in the Los Angeles area…through my lens, I am able to tell powerful stories, capture moments of resilience, hope and beauty, and hopefully, add to these worthwhile organizations.
I find immense joy and purpose in contributing through my art…
Roy Patience
Roy is an amateur photographer, my work is a journey of exploration, capturing moments that resonate with beauty, emotion, and subtle storytelling. I am constantly drawn to the interplay of light, shadow, and texture in the world around me, seeking to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary through the lens of my camera. My approach is rooted in curiosity and a deep appreciation for the fleeting nature of time—whether it’s the quiet stillness of a landscape, the energy of a bustling city, or the intimate expressions of a subject. I strive to create images that evoke a sense of connection and reflection, inviting viewers to pause and notice the details that often go unnoticed. While I am still learning and refining my craft, photography has become a powerful tool for me to express my own perspective and to communicate the beauty I see in the world.
Angela Chen Peters
I am an event and portrait photographer with over 10 years of experience serving the San Gabriel Valley. I’m an active member of Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County, Professional Photographers of California, and Professional Photographers of America, and I enjoy continuing to learn and grow within the photography community.
John Powers
John Powers is a Travel Photographer, with special emphasis on Asia. When not photographing overseas, John is usually capturing spontaneous portraits of reenactors at such venues as Renaissance Faires and reenactment events in the local area. He has one photography book published, “Vietnam Today” which is available on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. John is a Certified Professional Photographer and holds the Master of Photography degree from both the Professional Photographers of America and the Professional Photographers of California. John is currently the President of both the Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County and the American Society of Photographers.
Nikki Washburn
I was given my first camera as a teenager and have enjoyed it ever since. I currently reside in Southern California, love to travel, and enjoy many different aspects of photography. I love to learn new things & new ways of seeing & capturing the world around me. My travels over the years have taken me to many places near and far but most recently to Kenya on Safari, Katmai Nature Preserve in Alaska, and Bosque del Apache in New Mexico. I am currently the western territory Regional Vice President of GradImages. I am also a past President, Treasurer and 2nd VP of the Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County. I have received image awards from PPA, PPC, PPLAC and the OC Fair.
For all inquiries, please contact our Art Committee.
