oel Pickford is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker and author based in California. Born and raised in the Central San Joaquin Valley, Joel taught himself photography at age fourteen. Since earning his B.A. in literature and art history, he has worked in both the Canadian and American film industries, serving as a production stills photographer, cinematographer, writer, producer and director on a variety of short and full-length dramas, documentaries, commercials, corporate and educational films. He often lectures on the History of Photography and teaches photographic workshops through the University of California Extension program.   Joel is also an accomplished blues guitarist and singer who has performed with Albert Collins, Mel Brown, Sonny Rhodes, Wayne Bennett, Charles Brown, Harmonica Slim and many others.   Since 1995, when his interest in African American music and cultural history first led him to Southern Louisiana, Joel has been at work on a series of photographs of the region with a 5x7 view camera. This work is currently featured at the Weston Gallery.