Ed McDonald is the inaugural Alumni Focus exhibitor, a
new series of exhibitions featuring the photography of
distinguished alumni from the photography studies program
at Daytona Beach College.
Ed McDonald’s commercial work has garnered some of the
industry’s top awards, both locally and nationally. In 2005,
A Lifetime of Power was an Annual Report photographed
by Ed McDonald for the Kissimmee Utilities Authority. A
Lifetime of Power was selected by the Black Book, AR 100
as one of the Top Ten Best Photographed Annual Reports in
the world. The following year, Ed was honored again in the AR
100.
“The type of work I enjoy most, allows me total creative
freedom, to be expressive and challenge me to stretch
my limits. I approach each project individually, with no
preconceived formulas in place. I look at each assignment
with a fresh attitude and ask myself, ‘What can be done
to make this shot special?’ In doing so, I’m also able to
troubleshoot before I start the job, which makes me much
more effective in the actual creation of the images. Bottom
line, though--I absolutely love what I do and I think that sense of fun translates to the relationships I have with my clients. I
want them to enjoy this as much as I do. I’m committed to the
end product, and I’m also excited about the process…”When I
was in the 8th grade, I got my first camera. I couldn’t draw to
save my life, but I could see all of these pictures in my mind’s
eye. So I used the camera as a tool to create those images...
my interest in photography from when I was a kid still inspires
me” -Ed McDonald.
ABOUT ED McDONALD
Ed McDonald was born on Long Island, New York, but grew
up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Since graduating in photography
from Daytona Beach College in 1984 he has been a
commercial illustrative photographer in the Central Florida
region, working on highly visible commercial accounts in the
advertising and corporate sectors.
Ed’s positive energy and “above and beyond” philosophy have
landed him lifestyle, food, and product assignment work with
some of Central Florida and the nation’s most recognized
players: Crammer-Krasselt, PUSH, Hyatt, Hilton, NBA City,
NetZero, Full Sail, Platinum Post, Air Liquide, AAA, Fry-
Hammond-Barr, Tupperware, Dixie Stampede, Disney, Darden
Restaurants, Harcourt, USGA Golf Journal, Golf Week,
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Scholastic Book Fairs and People
Magazine.
As a former past president of the Central Florida chapter
of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP),
Ed McDonald has contributed greatly to the evolution,
development and professionalism of photography in Florida.
As a distinguished Daytona Beach College alumnus, he has
always given freely of his support, guidance and time to help
out both students and instructors. “I don’t just photograph people - I photograph people feeling
things, doing things, being things. If they’re not family to
begin with, they certainly become that by the end.”
A LIFETIME OF POWER
At just after 12:00 noon on September 30, 2005, the diesel
generators at Kissimmee Utility Authority’s Roy E. Hansel
Generating Station were powered down -- forever. The
decommissioning honors went to KUA President and General
Manager Jim Welsh, KUA Chairman Nancy Gemskie and two
daughters of Roy Hansel, in whom the plant is named.
The KUA board of directors authorized the decommissioning
of eight diesel units at the utility’s downtown Kissimmee
power plant because they were no longer economical to
operate. The decommissioned units ranged in age from 22
to 45 years old and had a total generating capacity of 18
megawatts (MW).
The decommissioned generators and their predecessors
produced electricity continuously since 1901 and were
housed inside a historic brick building on the northwest shore
of Lake Tohopekaliga in downtown Kissimmee. The historic
building and adjacent property were returned to the city of
Kissimmee for development. “This plant has built an extraordinary record of achievement
because it possessed one exceptional asset: generations
of operators who were willing to do what it took to keep
the lights on in Kissimmee,” said Welsh. “And for that, they
deserve our profound thanks.”
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
The museum acknowledges the support and assistance
of its partner organizations in the Southeast Center for
Photographic Studies, a joint enterprise of the photography
programs at Daytona Beach College and the University of
Central Florida (Daytona) and the Southeast Museum of
Photography, in the organization of this exhibition.
Related Events: Artist's Presentation by Ed McDonald: Thursday, May 29 at 12:00pm in the SMP Madorsky Theater. Note: This date has been changed from the previously published date of Wednesday, May 28. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
