George Ray, ("Buddy") is a photojournalist, father, god-father, brother, great-great uncle, and best friend who left his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky after high school to attend college in Washington, D.C. He stayed in the Washington metropolitan area for over 30 years. During this time, Buddy joined an old AT&T subsidiary - The C&P Telephone Company (then Bell Atlantic and now Verizon) - for career employment where he held several positions, including eight years in business-to-business marketing, two years in External Affairs, and 10 years in the C&P legal department.
During those years, Buddy took a beginner passion for photography from an interesting hobby to a level of serious visual expression. Over time and lots of study, his passion took his photography knowledge and skillsets to an advanced level in public relations, legal evidence, editorial, special events, and portrait photography. Buddy has three solo exhibits, and eight group photography exhibits to his credit, including a juried international year-long photo-exhibition, organized by the Duke Ellington School of Arts, in Washington, DC, and held in Beijing, China.
Buddy's record of active volunteerism played an important role in his "people skills" development, and interest in special event photography. He regularly volunteered for several community organizations, most notably with the D.C. Special Olympics for over eight years. Buddy also served on the Board of Directors of Montgomery Community Television, Inc. and The Takoma Park Cable Television Board - both located in Montgomery County, MD. - where he received an in-depth look at the cable tv industry and franchise development.
Buddy believes that his broad background and experience stretches far beyond that of most professional photographers; and allows him to deal most effectively with people from all walks of life.
The late Monte Zucker, Master Photographer and mentor, once said that, “The value of photography is not based on the quantity of photographs, but instead on the feelings and emotions that are left with the viewer long after the viewing has ended.” It is my hope that my body of work will give viewers a similar emotional experience that they will remember for years to come.
