I received my first camera on my 12th birthday and have been taking photographs ever since. I am primarily self taught through reading many books and have taken a couple of photography and Photoshop classes. However, most of my knowledge comes from just doing it.
After spending nearly 40 years in manufacturing environments I took my hobby and many years of photographic experience and created Packard Photographic Services. Shooting weddings and events provides the majority of my income, however, I would much prefer shooting and selling fine art photographs.
Over the past few years I have entered six photographs in competitions. I have won ribbons with five of the six. I won a first place ribbon and two second place ribbons from the Troy, PA Fair competition, and at the New York State Fair, where I competed against 97 other professional photographers, I won two third place ribbons in both the Black and White and Color Professional Divisions. Another photograph was chosen to hang in the Washington (DC) University gallery national exhibit in Bethesda, MD.
My exposure (no pun intended) to stained glass occurred around 1980. I am self taught by reading and doing. Since that time I have created many original works, taught several classes and continue to experiment in different aspects of working with glass, including glass blowing, fusing and slumping, and bead making.
I have been told that I have a “geometric eye” and many of my photos and stained glass works are examples of that.
In high school (a long time ago) I took a summer oil painting class from Mr. Albert Ryerson, who was the Elmira School System Art Director at the time. Upon viewing my painting of the Mark Twain Study he commented “That’s almost art!” I’m not sure if he liked it or not. And I haven't painted since.
I have tried my hand at writing, having written my own life story in conjunction with a great deal of family genealogy, and recently attempted haiku. I have written several haiku that relate to some of my photographs. I have also written an adventure story, with my three grandchildren as the heroines. This was the first of what I expect to be several more.
My inspiration comes from my environment – wherever I happen to be at the time.
Please visit my web site at www.packardps.com to see more of my work.
