Charlie Honsberger took his first pictures from a plane window flying back from a Navy patrol over Scotland.  He didn’t have much time for photography in those years, completing his navy tour, getting married, and going back to finish college.  His first efforts were devoted mostly to pictures of family and friends although he did invest in his first SLR, a Yashika which he still has.

Originally from New York, Charlie began working for G.E. in Salem, Mass.  In 1978 he was transferred to San Clemente. There as part of his work, beginning in 1995, he used a digital camera for taking pictures of machinery.  This experience helped him branch out in his photography and take an interest in other photographic subjects.

Charlie has never belonged to a camera club before but did take a couple of classes at the Orange Coast Community College.  One of his best learning experiences there was an assignment to photograph at Dana Point.  He was told to go out there and shoot several scenes with as many different settings as he could work out and evaluate what the camera would do.  Five years ago Charlie bought a Sony digital camera for himself.  He admits it is an “old clunker” but he knows it inside and out and loves it.  He is still using it to make his award winning photos.  
After retirement Charlie moved to Cathedral City where he lives with his wife Phyllis.  Both Charlie and Phyllis are also active in the Living Desert.