Ed Zirkle
Ed Zirkle has been a professional
photographer and photojournalist since the late 60’s. Starting out
as one of the first interns at the Louisville Sunday Courier and
Press, Ed learned from the master photojournalist of that golden
age. These mentors were, Bill Strode, Bill Luster, C. Thomas Harden
and later at the Evansville Sunday Courier and Press under J Bruce
Baumann and Randy Dieter.
After a stint in the US Army at Ft Bragg as one of the first Post
PIO photographers and then working for CID Ed returned to Ohio and
the Mansfield News Journal were he continued his winning
photojournalism consistently placing in Ohio News Photographers and
National Press Photographers contest.
Ed was awarded as an Honorary Fireman for his coverage of the fire
department events and additionally Ed provided in-depth coverage for
the local law enforcement departments in the area.
In 1979 Ed left the newspaper business and started his first
photography studio providing wedding and family event photographic
coverage to the local community. At the same time he worked with a
local architect and opened and ran a 1930 movie house. The Old
Madison Theater played themed movie weeks and held local community
events to include the Ohio Beauty Pageant.
In 1983, after driving endless hours, Ed graduated from The Ohio
State University with a BFA, Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photo and
Cinema. Ed’s final show for the degree was and in-depth look at the
Amish community in Ohio.
Ed moved to Columbus, OH and opened a commercial photography studio
and provided images to PR firms, ad agencies, local and state
government coverage and free-lanced for Ohio Magazine, AP and UPI.
For many years Ed covered national events such as the Indy 500,
Kentucky Derby, Rose Parade, Presidential elections and sporting
events. His images of a Russian gymnast were used by the Russian
government. Ed has spent a week photographing boxer Muhammad Ail in
Cleveland, Oh and Jack Nicklaus at Murfield for his yearly event,
covered the Ryder Cup and spent years photographing racing at
Mid-Ohio Race Car Course.
Ed took a break from full time photography and worked at The Ohio
State University. A span of time that will become very useful now.
He first managed the AV systems for the Medical Center at OSU.
Helped update equipment and learned about conference rooms and
conferencing.
