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J. Allen Gannaway, FPSA - Biography
Photography has been a major part of my life since the early 1940s, when I was given a Kodak processing kit without an instruction book. After studying the manual I borrowed (at that time nothing was available to buy) from a photo store, I was hooked and have enjoyed darkroom work ever since. I consider the computer the logical tool in providing a state-of-the-art extension to print retouching and manipulation.
After joining PSA in 1960, I participated in American Portfolios (even serving as its director for several years) and print exhibitions, achieving four stars in large monochrome and two stars in large color. In 2002 I started exhibiting in small prints and have two stars in each category (mono and color). After a tour as Chairman of the Pictorial Print Division (as well as the Honors and Nominating Committees), I served as Publications Vice President. More recently, I served as Chairman of the Progress Medal Award Committee for 3 years. I was also active in the Dallas Camera Club.
My professional career was spent with Texas Instruments in Dallas, primarily concerned with various types of publications. I retired in 1984.
In 1996, my wife Altie and I moved to Tulsa from Dallas to be closer to our son and his family. Our daughter and her family live in Philadelphia; we figured we were ready for the smaller city. We have two grandsons (one at the University of Texas at Austin and the other at the University of Maryland) and one granddaughter (in high school). After 47 years of marriage, in March 2001, Altie passed away, culminating 17 years of suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer during her last year.
In our move to Tulsa, my chemistry darkroom had to go. The digital darkroom is definitely satisfying my creative juices. The computer I am now using is an hp M8020N with an Intel Core 2 CPU, 2 GB of RAM, and a flat monitor. My printer is the hp Photosmart 5180 All-In-One. I also have a WACOM tablet. My operating system is Windows Vista and my software is Adobe Photoshop CS2. My primary camera now is a Nikon Coolpix 8800.
During the past few years, I have also enjoyed a new avocation: painting in acrylics and oils.
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