Lloyd A. "Al" Neblett
Career Highlights:
Al began his path to becoming a MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER in High School under the direction of a retired Navy photographer. He studied the art of black and white photography using a 4x5 Speed Graphic and a 4x5 Graphic View Camera. He spent much of his time taking wedding photos, covering custom car shows and rallies and portrait photography. Working part time at the local newspaper helping out in the photo lab, he continued on to Junior College in a Trade Photography Course. Al worked full time in the family auto body repair business building custom cars, doing auto body work and painting. Al decided that photography was going to be the career of choice and enrolled in Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Ca. Due to family situations, Al left Brooks Institute after a year and re-entered the family business. In the early years Al had several photos published in the Hot Rod and Custom Car magazines of the time and the local newspapers.
Al became a successful business man in Vallejo as manager of the auto body repair business and formed a Recreational Dealership with sales, service and retail store.
Later in his career Al became President and CEO of Rochat & Smith Inc. an insurance adjusting and investigations business. After 20 years Al retired from the insurance industry which gave him the opportunity to fulfill his dream as a full-time photographer and moved to El Dorado, California. Shortly after moving, Al joined the El Dorado Camera Club meeting many new friends.
Awards:
Al has received many awards for his photography in recent years. Now, with time to devote to photography he returned to Brooks Institute of Photography for advanced courses learning new lighting techniques and photo imaging.
He attended El Dorado Community College taking digital photography courses and learning the DIGITAL WAY to do photography as well as advance courses in Photoshop.
Currently Al uses a Canon D-20 DSLR along with a Rollei medium format camera and a 4x5 Speed Graphic and a Graphic 4x5 View Camera. Also he uses an Epson 2200 printer and Epson Perfection 4990 Photo Scanner to round out the equipment.
Community Service:
Al is a member of Lions Clubs international and has served as a District Governor and was appointed to Multiple District committees such as International Convention Hospitality committee. Al was one of the founders of Lions Wilderness Camp for Deaf Children and served as a member of the board and President for 14 years. Al was awarded a Life Membership from Lions Clubs International.
Al joined the Solano County Sheriffs Department as a member of the Marine Patrol Reserves and spent 26 years on active duty. Interests change as time goes on and Al spent a lot of time taking photographs in the Lake Tahoe area during ski season and shooting the San Francisco bay during boating season by taking photos during the off shore powerboat races from the Press and Officials' boats.
Al is also a Life Member of Naval Lodge F.& A.M. and a member of Ben Ali Shrine of Sacramento.