Tom Dowling
(863) 297-1051

PCC Grad & Winner of Air Force’s Photojournalism Award Exhibits Work at PCC's Fines Art Gallery

11/09/2007: A 1998 Polk Community College graduate, who took a Photography class at PCC on a whim and the winner of the Air Force's top award for photojournalism, is exhibiting his photographs at PCC.

The exhibit by Air Force Sgt. Mike Meares will be on view weekdays through Dec. 16 at the Fine Arts Gallery, Winter Haven campus. Admission is free.

Meares was named Air Force Photojournalist of the Year for 2006 and 2007. The Winter Haven native has received many honors from the Air Force in recognition of his skill to tell a story through his pictures.

Sgt. Meares traces his interest in photography to a Photo I class he took with PCC Professor David Woods. He needed one elective course to meet the requirements for an Associate in Arts degree at PCC and he chose photography.

“That elective turned out to be my passion,” Sgt. Meares said. “Photography came naturally to me. I see the world differently through a camera.” He looks back fondly on Professor Woods and his teaching techniques. “I was impressed by his images when I went through his class. I still use techniques I learned from his class when I'm shooting for the Air Force,” Meares explained.

A couple of years after graduating from PCC, Meares enlisted in the Air Force and qualified for a position in Public Affairs. “God was looking out for me and put me in the right position,” he said.

In the Air Force’s tech schools, he continued his photography education and also learned journalism. Stationed at Elgin Air Force base, in Florida’s panhandle, Meares relies on both skills each day as Editor of the base newspaper, The Eglin Eagle. He’s learned to focus on the people not the jets and machinery. “It’s about people, without people the mission wouldn’t happen,” Meares said.

His ability to tell a story through his military newspaper photographs has won Meares four first place prizes, seven second place honors and two third place awards. Among these honors are 2004 and 2005 runners-up for Print Journalist of the Year and the top stand-alone photo in the Air Force Materiel Command in 2005.

The Fine Arts Gallery is open weekdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Admission is free. For further information call 297-1050.