Bio:

Martha Blake was born Martha Ann Abbott, in Fort Bragg, CA in 1940. The family moved to Monterey Peninsula in the 1950's. Martha started with her photography around her high school graduation when her father gave her a twin lens reflect camera. While living on the Monterey Peninsula, not only was there lots to shoot, there was a lot of influence by some of the great known photographer’s, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston.
In the 60's she moved to Southern California married and raised a family, so there became a lapse in her shooting.

While visiting relatives in Carmel 1989, she went to Point Lobos with her brother William Abbott (Abbott also a photographer). Blake was so inspired by Abbott while he was making images at Point Lobos, the desire to start shooting again was very strong. Blake’s creative juices started to flow again and so she took classes in photography.
In 1996 Blake got her degree in photography from NYIP.
In 1994 she became the secretary/treasurer of a newly formed photography club, The Photographic Society of Orange County. She still maintains that position. This was a great avenue for her to really get involved with her photography again

Blake has won many awards at the Los Angles County Fair and Orange County Fairs. Has been in had several Gallery Shows in Orange County and had her photos published in several local and national magazines. She has had her photos in Photographer’s Forum several times.

Blake loves going on field trips with the photo club, so she has a lot of locations for shooting. She went to China in 2002 with her daughter and sister. She was totally inspired by China. In 2004 she went to Paris, where she also had great shots available. In 2006 she and her sister took an Alaskan cruise. Alaska was a great opportunity for photography.

Awards and Shows:

Photographic Society of Orange County Shows:

Huntington Beach Library - 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006
Anaheim Museum - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Orange County Fair:

1995 - Honorable Mention
1996 - 2nd Place
1997 - 1st and 2nd Place
1998 - Best of Advanced Photography Division and 2nd, 3rd Place
1999 - Honorable Mention
2000 - 1st Place
2001 - 3rd Place
2002 - 2nd, Honorable Mention
2004 - Honorable Mention

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Show:

1989 - Honorable Mention - Bolsa Chica Wetlands Show
1999 - 2nd Place - Bolsa Chica Wetlands Show
1999 - 2nd Place - Bolsa Chica Wetlands Show
1998 - 1st and 2nd Place Bolsa Chica Wetlands Show

1997 - Photographer’s Forum
1998 - Honorable Mention - Photographer’s Forum
1999 - Photographer’s Forum

1998 - 2nd Place - Huntington Beach Art League
1999 - Honorable Mention Los Angles County Fair