Member Spotlight: Regina Muscarella

How long have you been shooting?

I got my first camera, a tan Kodak Brownie Box camera, when I was 6 years old, a kind of consolation prize for the birth of my little sister. I loved it! I spent many hours through my teen years with my dad in his darkroom. He even gave me his prized Nikkormat which I used for many years until the shutter died. My husband and I made our own darkroom in our kitchen, with tents of blankets to block out the light, while the remnants of Dad’s darkroom filled our countertops. Today, the camera is part of my decor, with a prominent place on my mantle.

As a self-proclaimed geek, I gravitated toward digital photography in the 90s, as it combined my love of photography and my keen interest in computer technology. My first digital camera was an Olympus with a whopping 3 megapixel resolution. I moved up to the giant Sony Mavica, with its floppy disc storage, and then returned to Nikon, working my way through their CoolPix line. I got my first DSLR in 2006 when Nikon introduced the D40. I needed more speed than the Coolpix afforded, and the DSLR seemed the way to go. I am still with Nikon, and currently shoot with my full frame D800 and my D7100 crop. I hope to replace the D7100 with the D500 this year.

Cerda Woman - My husband Lennie and I were in Cerda, Sicily, meeting members of his family for the first time. I shot several pictures of animated family chatter, which attracted the attention of a little lady who peeked out of her kitchen window to see what the commotion was. I love the look in her eyes, as she is enjoying the exchange of broken English, Italian and their obligatory gesticulations.

What’s your preferred genre of photography?

I enjoy shooting everything. When I am shooting birds, I will say that my favorite genre is nature, but when I am the volunteer photographer at Genesee Country Village, I will tell you that I love to shoot still life, portraits and landscapes. When I mount my camera on the tripod for a night shot, I will say that I love the beauty of the night sky and the challenges of setting up a long exposure shot. And I love shooting performances: theater, music, dance. I love it all and I find something inspiring, exciting and challenging about every aspect of photography.

How did you get where you are now, in terms of your skills?

I learned many photography basics from my Chappy Martian Milky Way - I set up my camera and tripod in the early evening, getting dad. Formal education came much later when ready for a Milky Way shot over the beach in Chappaquiddick. The bonus was Mars, I began with Nikon digital cameras and The low in the sky and casting its orange glow in the waters by the infamous Dike Bridge of Nikon School in New York City. I participated in Teddy Kennedy fame. three weekend workshops with Nikon and then began doing New York Photo Safaris with Zim Pham. As a teacher at Victor Junior High School, I started a digital photography enrichment class, where I began to really hone my Photoshop skills. YouTube became my go-to in my learning-by-doing approach. Before my retirement from Victor, I joined the Montanus Photography Classroom, the Finger Lakes Photography Center, and most recently, The Finger Lakes Photography Guild, taking advantage of the myriad of classes and resources they provide. Best of all, because of these associations, I feast on the smorgasbord of knowledge each member has to offer.

Hobbies outside of photography?

I am a fitness instructor with Charlene Merritt’s Transform program at CrossFit Rochester. I love to hike and so appreciate the serenity of the woods. Having grown up on the coast of Connecticut, I love anything on the water, especially kayaking and paddleboarding. And if I could, I would travel. My bag is always packed, ready for an adventure. At home, I love my rescue pups: Flynn, a” chihuahua - ish,” and Sophie and Stewie, the pugs. 2020 brought me the best new hobby, my granddaughter Emersyn. My life is full.

The photos here represent the serendipitous moments in photography. Each one was taken when I intended to shoot one thing, and found my favorite shot was one completely unexpected.

Green Heron - I was on the Auburn Trail, photographing the blue herons that frequent the pond. I was delighted to see a green heron for the very first time, and even more so when he fished for dinner in the reflecting waters.

Ontario Parkway - In my never-ending quest to photograph the saw whet owl in Owl Woods, I found myself driving down the Ontario State Parkway once again. This time it was early in the morning. I looked out my window and saw this pond with its mirror-like reflections. I pulled over to take this shot. I did get some shots of the owls, but is by far my favorite of the day.

Late Night Cappuccino - I was in Rome at Christmas time, and decided to walk into the ancient city to see the Christmas lights. They were breathtaking, but this shot of two women enjoying each other’s company in a little piazza made me feel the real Italy. I loved the quiet friendship these women displayed on the crisp winter evening.

Social Distancing - In the early spring days of the pandemic, I ventured to the Mary Frances Bluebird Haven to see if the bluebirds were out and about. I was met by a beautiful bluebird, perched atop a social distancing sign. It was unexpected, but oh so fitting.xt and