My name is Dr. Ed Cordes, an optometrist practicing since 1977 - as a private practitioner for 25 years then as part of a multi-disciplinary medical group. My interest in photography began relatively early when as a sophomore in high school I won a regional science award for taking black and white pictures of protozoa (one celled animals) with an old folding camera through a microscope. Throughout the years my interest in photography expanded to include 35 mm SLR work with emphasis in travel and animal images. I usually shot slides and printed enlargements in my own darkroom using the CibaCrome process. During the ‘80s and ‘90s my wife and I were avid scuba divers and underwater photography dominated our efforts.
Recently, scuba diving has taken a back seat to other types of travel and serious nature photography of the above water persuasion. In 2003 the darkroom and film system was sold as I made the complete transition to digital photography using Canon professional equipment. I really like the flexibility and control that digital imaging provides.
Using the new digital system I have renewed my passion for nature photography. Through photography I hope I can bring an understanding and appreciation of the natural world to those who don’t always take the time, or have the opportunity to observe the wonders of nature that exist all around us.