Dr. Ed Cordes is an optometrist practicing since 1977 - as a private practitioner for 25 years then as part of a multi-disciplinary medical group. He retired in 2014. His interest in photography began relatively early when as a sophomore in high school he 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 his interest in photography expanded to include 35 mm SLR work with emphasis in travel and animal images. He usually shot slides and printed enlargements in his own darkroom using the CibaCrome process. During the ‘80s and ‘90s Dr. Cordes and his wife were avid scuba divers and underwater photography dominated their 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 Dr. Cordes made the complete transition to digital photography by purchasing a Canon 10D, and now a Canon 1DMK2 and various lenses. He likes the flexibility and control that digital imaging provides.
Using the new digital system Dr. Cordes has renewed his passion for nature photography. Through his photography he hopes he 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.
