Leslie Elias, fifth generation Northern Californian, grew up in this beautiful region, traveling with her adventurous family and riding the hills on her horses. She developed a love affair with the natural world and animals. She went on to study marine biology in college and worked as a research diver in Washington State. She spent a year in Greece and Turkey sailing the eastern Mediterranean on a sailboat. She also traveled through Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia. Back in the States, she met her husband while in graduate school. Kids followed with her second son providing the catalyst for her photographic awakening.

Leslie loved taking photographs but it was the aftermath of caring for a very ill child that opened a door. It began as a sort of art therapy that had Leslie wandering the hills and canyons around her home with camera. "Seeing", became a form of meditation and healing. Once she began to use the camera in this way, she found that photography became an extension of who she was. The process of learning and exploring the realm of photography continues to this day.

Dee LeVan has been photographing people for 35 years. Her first dark room was in the basement, but now she uses a digital workspace to create natural, and elegant portraits. 

Photography has been the passion that balanced her four decade career in special education.  Working with handicapped children taught her patience and imagination, and the ability to bring out the joy and uniqueness within her young clients.   She loves to photograph artists and musicians in their work environment.

Dee was inspired by photographer Imogen Cunningham when she was first studying portrait photography in the early seventies.  “Cunningham’s  images have stayed with me like none other”.