About Us
Photoworks is a vibrant and unique resource for photographers. Our philosophy is simple: Creative dialogue with fellow photographers, an intimate learning environment, and outstanding faculty are the ingredients for creative growth.
Our Mission
Fifty years ago, in a derelict building hidden among the abandoned amusement park rides of Glen Echo Park, four young photographers founded Photoworks with little more than a shared passion for the daily work of seeing, shooting, and printing images of lasting beauty and artistic integrity. The day-to-day collaboration, creative dialogue, and informal mentoring that led those artists to successful careers as fine art and commercial photographers established the values of experimentation and collegiality that define Photoworks today.
Offering a diverse combination of educational programs, gallery exhibitions, and community initiatives, Photoworks is a vibrant and unique resource for student and professional photographers – an arts community in the very best sense of the word.
Meet Our Team
Joe Bucherer
Executive Director
I really enjoy working with my camera. I absolutely enjoy coaching others to achieve the goals they set. My interest is in having fun and exploring. There is always opportunity to improve and learn more. Photography can be technical, but it can be fun, relaxing, and a great means of expression.
My photographic work is intentional. It means having an idea of the end result of what I am photographing. As an art form, photography has the means to result in different feelings and thought for the viewer. Sometimes I try to memorialize a story, but at other times, especially with creative and abstract work, it is important for the viewer to bring themselves to the image. I take inspiration from a wide range of photographers, but I am always drawn to the most simple images, because I understand how complex they really are in capturing light and texture for example, such as the work of Ansel Adams. Most of all, I have fun in trying to bring the concept I wanted to bear - sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't, and that is my fun personal challenge.
Gayle Rothschild
Board President
Gayle Rothschild is an award winning photographer and educator. Gayle’s career as a fine art photographer began as a student at Photoworks in 1978. She earned an MFA degree from the University of Maryland and began her teaching career at Photoworks in 1983. She has been Exhibitions Director of Photoworks Gallery since 2003.
Gayle's work is found in the collections of the Museum of Fine Art, Houston, Texas and the Corcoran Museum of Art, Washington, DC, as well as in many private collections. She has exhibited nationally in numerous group and solo exhibitions. Winner of the Park View Artist Award 2019 in the GEPPAC Labor Day Art Show.
Amy Walker
Board Treasurer
Amy recently retired as the Director of Finance and Operations at The Siena School in Silver Spring, MD. In addition to her long career in business and finance, Amy worked as an event and portrait photographer after completing the professional program at The Washington School of Photography in 2003.
Scott Davis
Board Member; Film/Darkroom/Alt Processing Director
A Washington, DC based large format photographer specializing in the DC streetscape, portraiture and the human figure, working in antique and historic processes. I offer classes in large format photography, platinum/palladium printing, gum bichromate printing, portraiture, studio lighting and photographing the human figure.
Donnamaria Jones
Board Member
Donnamaria is a published, award-winning portrait photographer based in the Washington DC-Maryland-Virginia area and has exhibited both locally and internationally. She joined the military in 1983 and has served both in the United States Army and Air Force for a combined total of 28 years.
Donnamaria has loved photography since childhood. From her early days in the military, she photographed family, friends, and colleagues just as a hobby. In 2012, she opened her first studio part time, and in 2014, she committed to the full time operation of Circa Life Images Studio.
Karen Keating
Board Member
Earning an MFA in photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Karen combines teaching photography at the Field School, directing and teaching at Photoworks and practicing fine art photography in the documentary style.
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Carolina Zumaran-Jones
Board Member
Carolina retired from a 45-year career in the fields of international education, cultural exchanges and corporate fundraising. She worked overseas for international organizations including USAID, USIS, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, as well as Washington, D.C. based non-profit organizations such as the American Association of Community Colleges, Center for Policy Alternatives and the League of Women Voters. More recently, she served for three terms as Council member at the Village of Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase, MD
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Mac Cosgrove-Davies
Handmade Photo Lead
Mac teaches Historic Photo Processes at Photoworks and runs the Handmade Photo Group that meets on Monday nights. Mac is a self-taught photographer who since 1978 has been practicing historic photographic processes including gum bichromate, cyanotype, VanDyke, palladium, oil printing, and carbon printing. Mac’s images are inspired by his extensive travel to developing countries as well as everyday life in Arlington, VA and elsewhere.
Steve Greenberg
Director of Volunteers
Stephen (Steve) Greenberg is an historian, photographer, rare book librarian, teacher, and writer originally from New York City, but now based in Maryland. He holds a number of degrees, including a Doctorate in History from Fordham University and a Master’s Degree in Library Service from Columbia University. He retired after 30 years in the federal service and now devotes his time to travel, photography, and writing. Locally, his photographic work has been displayed at Multiple Exposures Gallery in Old Town Alexandria, the Delaplaine Art Center in Frederick, and various venues at Glen Echo Park, including a solo show in 2023 at Photoworks. He has also self-published several volumes of original photography and verse, which is a continuing interest. Samples of his work can been seen at www.greythornex.com
Alan Sislen
Digital Director
Alan Sislen, an avid photographer for more than 50 years, is an award-winning photographer and a well-recognized photography educator and speaker. Landscape and architectural photography in both color and black and white are his passion. After more than 30 years in the investment industry, Alan was juried into Multiple
Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia in 2005. He is a long-time member of North Bethesda Camera Club where he has served on the Board and been selected as Advanced Color Print Photographer of the Year, Black and White Photographer of the Year and Advanced Electronic Photographer of the Year. His work is in numerous private and corporate collections, and he has been widely exhibited for more than 20 years.
Photoworks at Glen Echo Park is supported in part by funding from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, the Department of Commerce Maryland State Arts Council, and from patrons of Photoworks. If you would like to make a donation to support Photoworks please visit this link.
