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Debra Bartow
My Photography Journey
I first picked up my camera while volunteering at an animal shelter. I started by taking photos of the cats and dogs, hoping that, through my lens, they could find loving homes. Soon after, I began photographing the families who rescued them, capturing those special moments of connection.
From there, my passion grew. What started with photographing shelter animals soon led me into the world of wildlife photography. I set out to visit parks and natural spaces, determined to capture animals in their own beautiful environments.
I followed my heart and built a photography business. Today, I photograph families, children, newborns, holidays, branding, and pets, but wildlife remains one of my greatest joys.
I’ve always loved being outside. Years ago, I had a horse and spent much of my time in the woods, which only deepened my love for nature. Now I live in Monroe Township with my husband, Scott, our son, Brandon, and our two dogs, Shadow and Pebbles.
Sharing my wildlife photography means so much to me because I believe it brings people happiness. Not everyone can get out into nature, and through my photos, I hope others can experience the beauty of these amazing creatures.
-Debra Bartow
Terry Donofrio
BIO
Terry Donofrio (Terry Donofrio Photos) is a Sports, Wildlife and Landscape Photographer based in New Jersey.
Terry has photographed a wide variety of sporting events including:
Action Sports: Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey, Rugby, Lacrosse, Tennis, Fencing, Wrestling, Volleyball, Surfing etc.
Racing Sports: Bike Racing, Motorcross, Auto Racing, Triathlons, Marathons, Track-n-Field, Swimming, etc.
Charity Walk/Run Events: MMBCF Breast Cancer Foundation, Special Olympics, ADA, Anchor House, etc.
As a Professional Photographer, he has worked with the local USTA, DQ Triathlons, Marathon-Photos, OXC Racing, OCR - Battle-Frog and Others.
Although an avid Sports Photographer, Terry has also spent extensive time photographing Wildlife (especially Birds).
At local NJ locations including Forsythe NWR, the Heron Rookery, the D&R Canal, LBI, Sandy Hook State Park, Cape May, Oceanport, Millville Dam and the Manasquan Inlet.
Outside NJ at Bombay Hook in DE, Conowingo Dam (Bald Eagles) in MD, Florida (various locations and subjects) and Alaska (Bears and other Wildlife).
In addition, Terry has photographed Landscapes around New Jersey especially at the Abbott Marshland, the NJ Pinelands, Mercer County Park and the D&R Canal State Park.
Terry's Juried Photo Shows, Awards and Presentations:
His work has been accepted at various juried photo shows including Phillips Mills, Voices of the Marsh, Pinelands Alliance, Friends of Forsythe, Transformations/Americana (PCP) and others.
Terry has won various Awards for his photography including PSA and NJFCC Merit Awards as well as a Best of Show at the Voices of the Marsh Juried Event.
He has given Photography Presentations on Sports, Wildlife and Landscape Photography topics.
His photos have also been selected for several Photography Publications.
Melinda Matlack
Email mlmatlack@gmail.com
Website
Phone
BIO
I am a Nature and Wildlife Photographer based in Mercer County New Jersey with Birds being my
primary focus.
Beginnings
I remember my first camera which I took to summer camp, a Polaroid Swinger, which produced
black & white photos in about 15 seconds. Little did I know then that this would eventually become
a passion of mine. My second camera, a Nikon 35mm, was a gift from my parents which I
affectionately used to photograph my children growing up, many times against their will! Many years
later, in 2014, I joined a camera club which gave me the opportunity to meet like minded souls,
share field trip experiences and acquire knowledge to improve my craft.
Have Camera Will Travel
Photography has afforded me the chance to travel to places I might not have visited otherwise. With
my primary focus on birds, I have traveled to many locations throughout New Jersey: Forsythe
National Wildlife Refuge, Island Beach State Park, Mercer Meadows, Millville Dam, and the Ocean
City Rookery. Other locations outside of New Jersey include Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
in Delaware, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and Conowingo Dam in Maryland. In addition, I
have traveled to several locations outside of the US for all photography genres, including Cuba,
Iceland, Ireland, and four tours to Colombia, South America, with the last tour consisting only of
native birds and Hummingbirds.
Accolades
Various awards that I have received include a Merit Award from the Photographic Society of
America, an Honorable Mention from Voices of the Marsh, and several awards from the Cranbury
Digital Camera Club including Best of Show. My photographs have been published in the Metro
Weekly in Washington D.C., and I have sold a few of my prints. My work has been displayed at
Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton, Cranbury Town Hall, Monroe Library, Princeton
Radiology, Rider Furniture, Tulpehaking Nature Center, and Martines Restaurant in New Hope, PA.
Most recently, two of my images have been accepted into the 2026 Juried Phillips Mill Photographic
Exhibition in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Conclusion
Photography motivates me to get out and explore new places, capture and preserve moments in
time, feel more connected with my surroundings, and even enjoy the pursuit for that perfect shot.
By showcasing my work, I hope to create images that make the viewers feel something, blending
technical skill with personal vision.
-Melinda Matlack
Lynn Padwee
Bio
Based in Central New Jersey, Lynn Padwee is a passionate photographer dedicated to capturing wildlife in its natural habitat. Over the past 14 years, her deep immersion in nature has fostered a profound respect for animals and a keen awareness of our fragile environment. Lynn believes we must respect, protect, and treasure the natural world.
She originally developed her photographic eye in the intimate macro realm of insects and spiders. Today, she applies that same unwavering focus to photographing stunning birds and exotic wildlife, capturing the essence of the natural world. She specializes in dramatic bird behavior, including birds in flight and pursuing prey. For her it's all about the thrill of the chase to capture the perfect dramatic shot.
Her travels take her to numerous exotic locations, where she captures the native birds and wildlife. She merges her love for nature with her passion for travel. Through her strikingly colorful photographs, she showcases the beauty of both the landscapes she visits and the native flora and fauna.
She also focuses her lens on the diverse ecosystems of the Garden State and the Del Marva Pennisula.
Many of the images in this exhibit were taken in these breathtaking locales.
Through photography, Lynn has gained insights into bird behavior and the importance of patience. She has met many inspiring individuals along her journey, enriching her life and leading her to explore places she might never have otherwise ventured. These experiences have deepened her love and appreciation for nature and she is acutely aware of the fragility of our environment and the vital need to protect it. She finds it heartbreaking that stunning habitats and their inhabitants could be lost forever due to climate change and human impact, driving her to document and preserve their beauty through her lens.
-Lynn Padwee
Rich Polk
Bio
Bio
Since I was a teenager in the mid-1960’s, I have been making photographs, usually concentrating on my favorite subject: the railroad industry. More often because of historical significance than artistic excellence, my images have been published in railroad-themed books and magazines. I also spent some time as a freelance photographer, shooting mostly portrait, product, and legal/forensic subjects. But even from the beginning, I always admired photographs of animals, and longed to capture my own nature photographs. Money wasted on a cheap telephoto lens only served to frustrate rather than advance that dream.
A few years ago I purchased a decent telephoto zoom lens, and my quest resumed. Recently retired, I had the luxury of free time, and used this to develop the patience required to achieve increased success.
In the process, time spent in the field took on an increasingly spiritual significance that transcended the need “to get the shot.” Even if I were to delete all the images I captured on a given outing—due to poor timing, soft focus, improper exposure, etc.—I found myself richer for the experience (and often more knowledgeable about the habits of my subjects (and better aware of how to execute the photography the next time.)
I feel sorry for my fellow man who moves through life blissfully unaware of the unmatched beauty and overwhelming diversity of the natural world. More than once I have spotted a bald eagle overhead—in a park or a shopping center parking lot—and interrupted my self-centered marveling to see what those nearby were experiencing. Too often, their gaze is on the ground at their feet, or, if they see the bird, they have no idea that it is not just a crow or a vulture. Knowing how close the world came to losing forever eagles (and ospreys, and others) a few decades ago, the more frequent appearance of these species as they make a comeback only intensifies my admiration and feeling of good fortune for another viewing opportunity. My hope is that the images my friends and I have displayed in this exhibit will open the eyes and the minds of others and will help them appreciate what can be seen if only they were to look.
-Rich Polk
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