Date last updated: December 23, 2012

– This information is designed to help you know some interesting and unbelievable information about Lee Morgan and his background. (See: “You won’t believe this” further down the page……..

Favorite Quote: Maxie Anderson – “Success is the intelligent application of your failures.”

Favorite Food: green chili chicken enchaladas with no onions

Outline of Biography

Education: NMSU – UNM 1970-1978 Field of Study: Electrical Engineering, Biology (Pre-Med), Business

Work: St Josephs Hospital 1972-1973 Memorial Hospital 1974-1976 Eagle’s Eye Photo 1978 till present

Photography Experience: Educated by father beginning at age 6 till present. Certified and Master Certified Aerial Photographer, PPA Past CPP, Ae Qualified

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and adopted at birth, Lee was the youngest in the family and grew up with one older brother, by 3 years. Lee began learning photography skills at the early age of six. Photography has been a part of his life since then. Lee’s adoptive father, a neurosurgeon, was a skilled photographer, gave Lee his first camera at that time and began sharing his photographic skills. As a child, Lee liked to photograph trains, car racing, animals and airplanes. Lee watched his father process and print Black & White prints in their home darkroom, and, as he grew older, Lee took pictures of all his activities and started to make his own prints. He read and studied many publications on photography, and tried different ideas, constantly adding to his growing skills and knowledge as a photographer.

Through many years of experience, Lee developed and perfected his skills at photo composition — one of the MOST IMPORTANT aspects in the business of photography. With today’s digital technology, most everyone can afford to purchase similar digital equipment used by professionals. Before the development of digital, people shyed away from the high end, expensive file cameras. There was a certain mystique about the process. But there is so much more to just pointing a camera at a subject and pressing the shutter release with the camera set on automatic. Today there is a tremendous talent needed to take the RAW images into the digital darkroom in preparation to making the final print or digiital file for the client to make a great first impression.

To be creative one must consider lighting, surrounding objects, straight horizons, aperture, shutter speed, iso, vibration, air turbulence, meteorology, wind speed, direction and drift, FAA regulations, flight communications, working with co-pilots, rules of thirds, Bakker’s Saddle, triangle composition and the use of diagonals. Without the skills Lee has studied and developed, to visualize what image he wants to create before he actually arrives at the site, knowing where to position himself and the airplane to set up for the aerial views he wants to create for the client, it is difficult to create great images. When Lee is creating photographic images on the ground, his composition skills allow him to quickly identify the most creative angles to capture, thus helping reduce the time and cost to the client.

Lee has now opened up a photo Studio where he offers studio photography of friends, families, sweethearts, high school seniors, etc. You can view the web site at www.mysticmountainstudio.com Lee also does HDR car portraits on brushed aluminum. Its an awesome product.

As a native of Albuquerque, Lee knows the community well and makes an excellent choice to serve as a new team member on any project he is asked to work on. Lee has an easy going personality, making him easy and flexible to work with. Lee knows the value in helping his clients obtain images which are useful to their project.

Lee has a very diverse education and is blessed with a photographic eye, giving him great creativity. After graduating from High school, Lee attended New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico, with studies in four major fields — Electronic Technology, Electrical Engineering, Biology pre-Med, and Business. During his early years in college, he traveled extensively throughout the United States, during the summers, always taking photographs, documenting his travels. He has visited all but two states in the continental United States.

After two years of college directly after high school, Lee took a break and worked in a hospital, as he was becoming more and more interested in the medical field and thought he might finally pursue the medical profession. His hospital experience included holding positions on the orthopedic, surgical, and neurological ward. He also had the opportunity to work in the emergency room.

Lee also worked as an orderly and traction technician for the orthopedic surgeons. Finally, Lee trained to be the cystoscopy technician in the operating room at St Joseph’s hospital, now Lovelace. (Lee is pictured in the photo to the right) Here he worked for the urology surgeons. In this department Lee worked on setting equipment up for the urology procedures,brought patients in and assisted during the procedure as needed. Doctors were always asking for something. Lee even had the opportunity to take photos for the doctors of their surgical procedures. Periodically, Lee is still engaged to take medical photography because of his knowledge of medical procedure and knowledge of clean room environment.

In the hospital environment, is where Lee refined his people skills which he learned from his father, known to doctors as beside manner. Lee uses these skills daily in the operation of his photo business and interaction with everyone he meets.

Lee went back to school at NMSU where he pledged and became a member of the Sigma Chi International Fraternity which was started by 7 college student in 1855 and now has initiated over 300,000 members . As an undergraduate Chapter member, Lee petitioned the Fraternities Grand Chapter (decision making body) to start including two undergraduates on the Executive Committee. The petition was approved and Lee became the first of two undergraduates to serve on the International Executive Committee starting in 1977. Lee has been an active member since 1974. Lee then transferred to UNM to continue his pursuit of medical school. One of the most significant attributes of being a member of Sigma Chi has been the numerous contacts made across the country and Canada through the alumni network.

Since leaving UNM studies to start the aerial photography business, Lee remains very active with the Sigma Chi Fraternity Alumni Association and has a long list of accomplishments. Lee is active with Sigma Chi’s Annual Balfour Leadership Training program as a faculty member in the Recruitment Division. Each summer 1800 + Chapter undergraduate officers and other selected undergraduates gather for 3 days of intense workshops on a university campus to learn new leadership skills to take back to their own chapters. Lee also worked with the local undergraduate Chapter as an advisor to the Pledge Program from 2006 till 2008 when the Chapter regained its Charter. Lee is also involved in consulting on many alumni activities relating to the operation of the House Corporation and UNM Greek life activities and planning. As an active alumni member of this well know international fraternity, Lee has an opportunity to help make an impact on many young college men, as they prepare for their future in the “real world”. Upon returning to UNM, Lee worked as a technician in a combination Intensive Care/Coronary Care Unit at old Santa Fe Railroad – Memorial Hospital, which was cnverted into a hotel called Parq Central.

While studying to attend medical school, Lee had an opportunity to learn to fly, fulfilling one of his childhood dreams (which developed as he use to go with the family out to the airport to watch airplanes land or wave at the pilots in the B-36′s that flew over his home in their landing patterns)–Lee was hooked on flight. He earned his pilot’s license in 1978. His next achievement was scoring well on his written commercial flight exam as he continued to build the business. Lee has now accumulated over 4000 flight hours.

With an unending passion to utilize his flight skills for a business, and after diligent research, Lee recognized a specific need for aerial photographic services–and at the young age of 26, established Eagle’s Eye Photo Imaging in October 1978, placing his pursuit of medical school to the sideline. Lee worked hard to build his large base of clients and is proud of the services he provides. Lee has never regretted his decision. Its an awesome feeling to know you are a part of a process to help a client create a program to get a job done well and help make a great first impression.

Lee believes that when he provides a quality product, with multiple, flexible options, at a reasonable fee, coupled to a reliable, friendly service, my clients will continue to depend on and invest in the visual products / tools offered. Lee is currently working on his 33rd year of operating a full time business, practicing this principle.

Lee feels very fortunate to having been given the following advice from his father. He told him that he did not care what he did for a living, as long as he was happy doing it. Lee has never regretted placing his sights on a photographic profession as he is providing a valuable service to many other professionals who rely on the images he creates to help them add impact to their work. Many people have been fortunate and know the value to have Lee work on their team, helping them create a lasting FIRST, Second and Third IMPRESSION.

Lee selected the company name Eagle’s Eye because the eye of the eagle has always been associated with clear, crisp, sharp vision. Lee has logged more than 4000 hours in the air in building the aerial photography business and has made over 4600 flights. Lee has flown with over 50 different instructors, utilizing them as safety pilots, giving him a diverse and exceptional flight training.

Lee is known in the aviation business world as FOTO ONE when flying in the local area. This unique designation was requested and approved through the Regional FAA district office. The purpose of this designation was to increase the safety factor in communication.

Lee has been involved in every major construction project, and major development planning, either aerial and or ground, in Albuquerque since 1978 and also provides this service throughout New Mexico. Companies depend on and invest in the aerial images Lee creates to help them make a great First Impression and or to use as a construction management tool or make a certain point in a jury trial. Lee received his Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) status in 1991 from the Professional Photographers Association, International, and received his AE (Aerial certification) qualification in 1989. He remained the only photographer qualified in Aerial photography by PPA in the State of New Mexico until 1999 when he chose not to continue his membership in PPA due to a number of local issues which went against his business ethics.

In February 1998, after working for several years on a Masters of aerial photography certification, Lee received his MCAP, (Masters Certification of Aerial Photography) (which he helped create and establish a quality standard to help serve the quality needs of a multitude of clients) through the International organization of PAPA, (Professional Aerial Photographers Association, International – an international network of aerial photographers).

The Masters certification is an important designation in that it signifies to a client they can be assured of a quality product and service. This designation takes years to achieve. In other words, they have met the standards necessary to be awarded the Master Certification of Aerial Photography. Whereas the basic certification is composed of one class, no photographic skills review and a test is taken.

Since that time when the Masters program was created (in 1995), a new certification program was recently developed and introduced for new members in 2010, which is a certification of basic knowledge covering, digital camera operation, FAA flight and safety rules as it applies to fixed wing planes and helicopters. This type of certification is good to make sure those starting out in an aerial photography business have the basic knowledge, however it could be misleading to the general pubic looking for quality aerial photography when they see someone posts they are a ”Certified Aerial Photographer”.

The basic certification does not have anything to do with aerial photo product quality and or business standards/ethics which should be vitally important to a client. There is not a Standard of basic time required to be in business to earn such a certification. There are a number of aerial photography businesses that start up each year with the hope of just earning some extra money to pay for the airplane fuel for the airplane they own. Typically and in my opinion, based on experience, these people will under cut the local established business to get a piece of the pie and typically, you get what you pay for. In my opinion, based on past experience, one cannot just buy a new digital camera, hop in a plaane and start delivering a quality product.

Lee has served on the Board of Directors of the Imaging Professionals of the Southwest. Lee is a past president of IPSW.

Lee was the Director of Education Services and vice-president of the Professional Aerial Photographers Association, International, for 3 years – 1996-1998. During this time period Lee helped organize annual 2 day aerial photo conferences serving photographers all over the US and Puerto Rico. The organization now enjoys members from Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Truly an international organization. During this 3 year period Lee was instrumental in re-building the organization that had not grown since the early 80′s due to an illness of the founder Joe Thornburg. The organization was originally started in the late 60′s. Lee worked closely with key members of the organization, Ted and Sherry Campbell (Columbus, Indiana)and Bob Yeager (Atlanta, Georgia) whom Lee met through the organization, Jim & Pam Lauden from Dallas and finally John and Deann Mooney from HOuston. Today the membership is 300+ members strong and is an exceptional network of aerial photographers. This allows Lee to be able to get aerial photos in other parts of the country for his clients, so they can work with him locally.

Lee was elected as the President of PAPA in 1999, where he served a one year term. He has taught many two-day conferences throughout the United States, from 1995 to 1999, on all business aspects of photography and photography skills. Lee worked closely with Ted Campbell, then President of PAPA. Lee has served two terms on the Board of Directors for PAPA, as the SW area director. Lee’s photographic images have received numerous awards which help him earn his Masters certification. His work is used world-wide, serving his client’s many imaging needs. His photos are used in a very diverse group of people and places. Some have been used in Congressional Reports and a print even hangs in the Soviet Union equivalent of our FAA office headquarters.

Lee Morgan established Eagle’s Eye Photo Imaging to provide high quality, custom-crafted oblique aerial, vertical and ground photographic services. He has devoted his time to specializing in this unique field of photography. Eagle’s Eye is dedicated to high ethical business standards, high quality photographic prints and serves a wide range of clients — from the real estate profession to the legal profession. Lee’s profession is transforming each client’s ideas into visual tools, creating a clear, detailed, crisp visual image to tell a specific story. Eagle’s Eye provides a wide range of services to each client, from creating the images to framing. The clients benefit to placing Lee Morgan on their team of experts and using the in-house team concept is — saving time and cost with one-stop shopping, personal service, wide range of digital products, control of turn-around time, quality and confidentiality, key elements to each client and a successful service based business.

Lee’s father died January 1st, 1998. He was informed that his dad’s female companion claimed to have been married to him. That claim was challenged. While Lee was on the witness stand 6 months later, after discovery was supposed to be complete along with a deposition taken, this woman’s attorney presented Lee on the witness stand, with a document to identify. It was a certificate of adoption which Lee never knew about. I believe, at that moment, you could have heard a pin drop in the court room. This event has had a significant impact on Lee’s life. One moment you have a life time of memories, and the next moment your world implodes and you find your thought process in total turmoil and disarray. Lee had know his entire life something just did not seem right. A missing link to his dilemma was now out in the open. You could have heard a pin drop in the court room. Lee was successful in proving the woman to be a fraud, yet with the legal system the way it is, she never had to pay for the destruction she caused or held accountable.

From an adoption perspective, this is hard for anyone, having never experienced this situation, to understand. Lee learned further, that his biological mother was told by the doctor, mind you that she was only 16 at the time, that Lee had died at birth, therefore she had never tried to search for him later. Lee believes that this is another reason why the adoption had been kept a secret. Lee became active with Operation Identity – a local, adult support group for all people with a connection to the adoption Triad. Lee has served as the President of the organization for several terms.

This unexpected experience was certainly the beginning of a complex web. Lee discovered that he is the oldest now of two brothers and a sister. His Biological mother died 2.5 years after they were able to meet. Lee is thankful that the Good Lord, basically provided a good home to grow up in, however Lee often considers what his life might have been like had this not happened. One just never knows the destiny of their life as it unfolds, especially from such a young age depending for others to make good decisions.

Much more is know now on the effects on a child that is adopted at birth. Back then it was, take the adopted child home, love them and don’t tell anyone. When that child learns way later in life about being adopted is when the real problems set in as you try to organize your thoughts and want to ask a thousand questions. In Lee’s case, both adoptive parents had died and only immediate relatives knew the partial facts, like the fact that Lee was adopted at birth, a tightly held secret among 14 people for 46 years. That is just amazing to think about.

Now that you know a lot about the owner, we look forward to working with any new clients and with those who have invested in Lee’s photographic skills, as he has become a valuable member of their team.

Lee has a historical aerial review of Albuquerque, showing growth of certain areas from 1986, then again in 2006 and finally 2010. This presentation is available to any business or civic groups, free of charge. Just call to set up a meeting time.