Dan Eslter's "River Otter"
A husband and wife walk into a bar. Sounds like a bad joke, but it’s a true story. The bar was actually a cozy wine bar in Ashland (Liquid Assets), and the guy and gal were my husband and me. We went specifically to see images by photographer, Dan Elster. We’d only heard about Dan but hadn’t seen his beautiful work. As we stood gawking and exclaiming at our favorite image (the owl featured in my Ashland, Oregon book), a young man walked over and introduced himself, “Hi, I’m Dan Elster. I’m so glad you like my work.” You could have knocked me over with a Barn Owl feather! It was like Ansel Adams tapped me on the shoulder and said hi. A few years have gone by and I now consider Dan a friend.
Dan can literally walk outside his back door and see wildlife that most photographers only dream about seeing. He’s a combination of African Safari guide (with eagle eyes), a snake charmer (in a good sense), and Tonto. Watch out Johnny Depp! (I’ve heard the animals pay Dan to get their pictures taken!). Actually, Dan will be the first to tell you otherwise. Like directing the offense in football, or turning a beautiful piece of fine wood on a lathe, the end result only LOOKS easy. Dan often stakes out animals in the wild, in unglamorous, damp barns and fields, waiting for the precise moment when a baby owl yawns and opens its eyes to say “Hello World.” Click! Dan’s trophy is that single image he spent hours patiently waiting for. He can often be found on weekends at the Lithia Artisans Market.
Dan’s website is: http://www.elsterphotography.com/
Barbara
Barbara Tricarico is an Ashland, Oregon resident who lived and worked in Northern Virginia for 40 years as a teacher and sign language interpreter.
After receiving an MA Degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. in 1977, Barbara set up a darkroom in her basement and began concentrating on her photography hobby. She took as many courses as she could at her local college and specialized in black and white portraits of her friends. She became active in her quilt guild, "Quilters Unlimited" and was often asked to professionally photograph her friends' quilts. That led her to co-author and photograph her first book entitled "Quilts of Virginia 1607-1899" for the Virginia Consortium of Quilters.
Once Barbara and husband Bill retired to Ashland in 2010, the couple fell in love with the beauty of the state. Barbara has spent countless hours photographing and attending workshops. She joined the Southern Oregon Photographic Association and currently serves as their president.
Since 2013, Barbara has produced nine photography books on Oregon for Schiffer Publishing, inviting over 50 photography friends to showcase their best images, including many of her own.
When not photographing or creating new books, Barbara enjoys traveling, quilting, and spending time with her grandchildren.