From simple beginnings

Proud Heritage and Vision

Allow me to introduce myself. Megan Zapel, pleased to meet you!

I'm not actually sure when I first picked up a camera, but by the age of 13 I was taking classes at our local community college where I fell in love with photography, specifically black & white Fine Art. I had a very special professor who challenged my perspective, stretching me beyond my comfort zones. She pushed me to always look beyond the obvious, and I'm so thankful for her influence on my work!

I was born into photography. Its a family obsession. My first camera was my Dad's Nikon FM (1977) that he purchased while he was a Veterinary intern attending Cornell University. With this great dinosaur I set to capturing everything around me. Seriously, rolls and rolls of film. I can't say that it was any good, but it was certainly fun! After a while, my grandmother gifted her father's 1948 Nikon S to me. If I had thought the FM was a dinosaur, my Great-Grandfather's camera was a fantastic relic that served as a time-machine of sorts to connect me to my ancestor. I cherish that the love of this medium runs so strong through my veins, and I am proud to continue the tradition. By beginning my own Photography journey using these beautiful 35mm workhorses, I built my foundation on that of fundamental basics. Shoot what you see, use the light that is available. Stepping into the digital world has simply made this an affordable business for me, but really hasn't changed how I see the medium as an Art Form.