Discover your Inner Beauty ...
Photography

The following are different places I have been so far in my life (40 Years).  Well to the best of my recollection.

Born and Raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hi Mary :)

Trenton, New Jersey a lot to visit my grandmother

New York City a lot to sight see

Niagara Falls both the Canada side and US side

Wildwood, New Jersey summer family vacations

After High School Graduation I Joined the Air Force and rode my first train on my way to the airport.  I then flew by myself for the first time and flew to San Antonio, Texas for Basic Training

After Air Force basic training I rode a bus to the airport and flew to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi for technical training as a ground radio technician.  I made it through a couple months of the school was not able to complete it.  The commander called me into his office and asked me what I would like to do if I had a choice of jobs in the Air Force.  I swear the book he pulled out was at least 3 to 4 inches thick!! Well there were many choices to pick from, I did not know where to start.  The commander asked me what I liked to do and what hobbies I had.  I went through my current hobbies of volley ball, baseball and skiing.  He smiled and told me I had to pick a real job first then I could do those as hobbies also.  He then asked me the most important question up to that point in my life that make me who I am today... "What kind of hobbies did I do, or what did I enjoy doing in high school ?  My answer was the beginning of a WONDERFUL, FULL FILLING, and well rounded careers I could ever ask for.... PHOTOGRAPHY... I took two years of photography in high school and loved every minute of it.  I also told him that I even built a darkroom in my basement at home so I could do it as long as I wanted.

After technical training for radio maintenance, I was sent to Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in South Carolina to be an Air Force Photographer.    While at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base I was sent to Photography classes at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado.  The different classes I took there were Black & White Photography, Color Photography, Intermediate Photojournalism.  If you don't know me I LOVE SKIING... So Denver, Colorado was the place that was made just for me.  I did go Skiing MANY times while I was there during the three different classes.

I remained in Myrtle Beach for a few years.  Myrtle Beach in the late 80's was Rockin' for a young adult, It was AWESOME !

I was then sent to Osan Air Base, South Korea, where I loved it so much I signed up for a second year.  On my VERY LONG flight to South Korea I had layovers in Alaska, and Guam.  There was SO MUCH to see and do in South Korea.  I took many sightseeing trips.  I also joined a great group of people.  They called them selves the "Osan Bulgogi Hash House Harriers" it is a running group of people with a big party at the end.  Their description of themselves is a drinking group with a running problem.  I met lots of people and made LOTS of friends.  While I was there I also volunteered in the military post office for the two years I was there helping sort and deliver all the mail on base.  I also volunteered at the mini post office that received packages to be mailed back to the states.  I really miss South Korea.  I even went to the Demilitarized zone.  While I was stationed in South Korea, I was on flying status and had to go to Kadina Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan for altitude chamber training.

After my two years were over I was sent to Norton AFB in San Bernardino, California.  I was assigned to the 2nd Combat Camera Squadron.  Norton Air Force Base Closed and we had to move our unit and its headquarters down the road about 50 miles to March Air Force Base in Riverside California.  About a year or so later they closed March Air Force Base and reopened it as March Reserve Air Force Base. While assigned to the 2nd Combat Camera Squadron I was sent back to Osan Air Base in South Korea for a couple weeks to document the major military exercise (mach war readiness training).  I was sent to Korat, Thailand for a month to document the joint military exercise Cobra Gold.  While I was there we did get some time off to sight see and shop.  I bought a VERY NICE 20 karat gold herring bone necklace.  It is VERY nice, every piece was hand engraved to sparkle and shine to include the joining piece.  After that exercise I asked to be assigned to the Multi-Media section where we would take all the color slides and videos and make sound on slide presentations for the air force to use.  We also took individual 35mm color slides and made panoramic photos out of them.  One of the biggest shows we did included 32 slide projectors on a scaffolding that was about 20 feet high, and yes we had to climb up with all the equipment without falling.  This show was for the Air Force Wide Competition held in Washington State "Airlift Roadeo".  I also went to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama for a multi-media presentation.  The next time we went to McChord Air Force Base, New Jersey for yet another multi-media presentation.   While assigned at March Air Force Base I was assigned the building custodian for the entire headquarters and the 2nd Combat Camera Squadron.  This was no small task as it was a very old building with over 200 rooms and no system or organization for keys other then an large coffee can.  a lot of the rooms did not even have working lights in them.  Our Squadron had millions of dollars worth of camera, video, and computer editing equipment so security for the building was the first concern as we were not within the base perimeter and security fence.  I put together a plan and approached the commander about having two rotating personnel from the unit at the front desk during the hours that the unit was not open.  After a few months of this I thought of a better way of securing the building.  The building at one time had a security system that notified the base police if any of the doors were opened, but the problem was that the entire first floor had large old windows that did not make it as secure as needed.  I thought of building a frame and covering the first floor with plywood in the areas of high value equipment on the first floor.  The plan was approved and I oversaw the construction and implementation of the security system and the 2 person teams guarding the building after hours were not needed any longer.

My next assignment took me to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.  I was stationed there for almost 10 years.  I started there as a photographer then assigned as Assistant manager of the photolab, and then photographer manager.  While I was assigned there I transformed the photolab from a conventional photolab with limited digital photolab capabilities, to a state of the art fully functioning Digital Photolab with no chemicals.  This also included setting up the Audiovisual Network that was secure and enabled everyone to search and access all photos and graphics when needed no matter when it was photographed or designed.  This was no easy task as I had to design a diagram of how all the computers and printers had to be connected and who had access to what areas, and then run the network cables, network hubs and also put the ends on the cables.  I also procured a computer that would be used as our own private network server.  We were the first Air Force Base to sign up with the Air Force agreeing to turn off and get rid of all photography and hazardous chemicals in our areas.  While I was at Davis-Monthan I also documented many deployments and exercises.  While in charge of the photolab I helped design a fully functioning deployable digital photolab.  Included in this was how to operate and decontaminate any and all equipment if we were attacked using chemical weapons.  When the attacks of September 11th were over with the Air Force called us to deploy our digital photolab, videolab, and graphics department.  We  were graded outstanding in our deployment exercises and our photolab's digital capabilities were the first choice, and was commended with its overall capabilities, equipment, and personnel that was sent in minimal time.  While I was in Tucson for about 10 years I went all over the southern states of the US and took pictures every where I went.  I even went to Mexico three times on vacation with a friend in the graphics department.  On September 11, 2001 after the attacks I felt a really deep need to fly to New York and Photograph the damage and make a photo montage of a picture that I envisioned.  I had to talk to my commander to get my vacation approved and then flew out to take the photos I wanted and then came back and created a photo montage/poster of my trip/idea.  I then took the design and showed my commander and base commander and both wanted them blown up 3x4 foot and put on canvas to be hung in the conference rooms as a permanent reminder of why we are in the Air Force.  I also honed in my mural and graphic design skills by volunteering my services to different areas of the base and capture the individual squadrons on the base.  All were received with great praise how I was able to capture all aspects of their jobs and present them in the areas they needed them to fit. 

After my long stay at Davis-Monthan AFB I was assigned to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.  I was assigned to the Audiovisual Center later to become the Multimedia Design Division.  While I was assigned there I did a multitude of things from photographing the standard awards ceremonies to various medical photography coverage.  I also continued my thirst for knowledge and attended many classes in digital photography and graphic design.  I also continued creating large murals and pictorials of the various military exercises the students and military brigade took part in.  Three of the murals still to this day two years after I retired were still are hanging in the halls of the military brigade building in the University.  I had my eyes set on retiring at 20 years but I found out that all military personnel had to retire on the 1st of the month.  So I retired with 20 years and 15 days of Active Air Force Career.  The nice thing that came out of my AWESOME career in the military was all the wonderful people I met, all the knowledge i received, and I now get a pension for the rest of my life along with the medical coverage and VA benefits. 

After retirement from the Air Force I returned to Lancaster, PA and got a job working at the local AMF Rocky Springs bowling center.  I am paying off my bills and so far I and 2/3 of the way to being dept free.  In march of 2009 AMF sold our bowling alley to a local couple that owns the local barstools and billiards stores.  This was a very rough transition for everyone involved as when AMF left they deleted the cash register point of sale software, canceled the phones, and stopped the trash service after they told the couple they would give them 30 days before the services would be discontinued.  This among MANY other problems made for a VERY LONG first 8 months.  But now everything is working and well on its way to becoming the best Bowling center in Lancaster.  (Your doing a great job Fred & Sherry)  Currently I am one of the shift managers working full time, once again I am also continuing my photographic and graphic design knowledge by creating all their flyers and fact books along with the design of a bowling basics book to hand out to new bowlers that want a all encompassing bowling knowledge.