Snap-Shot: Don & June Stadnik

Feature articles focusing on TGO resident photographers - by Jim Brubaker

June and Donald moved to TGO over three years ago. Every resident of TGO has a life story that would make a perfect autobiography, a perfect photo story for the coff ee table, or a legacy movie to pass down to the kids. But, June and Donald’s story of life together has overwhelmed me. Every conversation I have with them turns up new episodes - as if I was reading an award-winning novel. I just found out their lust for life and interesting careers has been passed down to their children. For example, one of their daughters is a senior pilot for Alaska Airlines.

June and Donald had a farm in Washington state with over 1,500 bee hives that they hauled up and down the West coast, following the blossoms for pollination and honey production. They were performers at county fairs where Donald allowed June to pour handfuls of bees on his head, neck, and face so that he looked like he had a lumberjack’s beard of bees. They haul their airstream trailer throughout the United States. Not a couple to sit around the campfi re drinking and gossiping, they take their camera and powerful telescopes to the darkest spot in the campground and photograph nebula, planets, moon craters, and more. They have a parrot that talked to me - telling me it wanted a beer. Then it made glugging sounds and let out a burp. Oh, did I mention that June just retired as CPA, controller, and IT from an international produce distribution business? It is fun to talk with them because they always make sure to tell you the letter “I” does not fi t their vocabulary. Everything they have done is “we.” I fi rst met them when I went to ask June a few questions in preparation for this article. June is a new photo club member. Early in our discussion June unexpectedly turned the table on me - she soon was the one asking questions. But as someone once said, “The best things come from the unexpected.” Read on! June said, “Yes, I go to the Photo Club meetings but I want to learn more. Why are there not more learning sessions? How about helping us with our photography questions all year long? How do I get a mentor to help me plan a photo shoot, set the controls on my camera, things like that. With so much talent around, could you help me fi nd a mentor?” Yes, I was surprised. June had very quickly turned the tables on me. I did not have answers for her questions. So, I struggled to bring our interview to a quick end, and fi nally, politely said, “Let me work on your questions.” I got out of the door as fast as I could.

Meet June and Donald Stadnik

After that interview, I had a long talk with Dave Spahn, president of the Photo Club. Out of our discussion came this idea. Let us put together a “Mentor Pool” - a group of “experienced AND enthusiastic” photographers who can help when called upon.

Next we said we would need a situation or two to test the idea of this Mentor Pool. Well, I just happened to have one situation right in my own back pocket. Last week, the new CSA office turned to me to get four high quality photos of TGO nature for their walls.

Coming up with the idea and finding a test case were easy, but we needed some experienced photographers who would agree to join the initial Mentor Pool. After many calls I found five names to start a Mentor Pool: Dave Spahn, Robin Francis, Doug Jensen, Gregory Danial, and myself would all be willing to contribute time when called upon.

Some have full-time businesses and we are an RV community where RVers travel a lot. Therefore, we need an administrator to line up available Mentors and their specific skill to the kind of help being ask for.

Back to June I went. I explained I had spoken with five experienced photographers who agreed to put their names into a Mentor Pool.

I told her I would like for her to meet with Carmella Galley of CSA and select two of her photos to help fill the empty frames she wants to hang in the office.

Then, I told her to organize a shoot of four new photos for the CSA walls and use the Mentor Pool to advise her on how to make those photos stand out - be merit photos. I asked her to help me and Dave Spahn get an announcement out inviting club members to participate with her. Then I told her she could set up a Mentor-led practice session with everyone. Carmella will help us get the word out on the various CSA Facebook groups as well. These announcements mean that anyone in TGO is invited to participate.

I told her that, as administrator, she can work with Nancy Presant to set up photo shoots/events/trips, throughout the year, that will provide the opportunity for Mentor-led learning and practice experiences.

“So, June, what do you think of that?” I leaned back in my chair and shut my mouth.

She sat there with mouth open and tried to find a quick exit from her own home. Seeing no exit, she said, “What a great idea - let’s make it work. New photographers are going to love it!” Wow, I think I just turned the table back to June.

In short, this Mentor Pool idea wants to help everyone in TGO learn from the talent our experienced photographers have. We hope our Mentor Pool idea works out and we hope it encourages everyone to enjoy photography more.

If you want to join the Mentor group, call us. If you want a Mentor to help you, call us. If you want to participate with June on taking photos for the CSA office wall, call us.

Go ahead and test us. See if the best things come from June’s unexpected turning the table on me.

Call June at 772-913-2735 or Jim at 321-693-0597..

“Yes, I go to the Photo Club meetings but I want to learn more. Why are there not more learning sessions?