"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
Thomas Merton

   Ken Manwiller has been involved with the arts from a very early age. He began studying the guitar in Grade School and in Junior High School was playing guitar in a small jazz combo, “The Continentals”. By High School he was playing in a Top 40’s band called “The Downbeats”. They entertained at school dances, clubs and weddings. The band also recorded for the local Top 40 radio station, WRAW, doing promo pieces. Ken went on to travel with a Hard Rock Band called “Smoke”. After years of trying to make it as a musician, he decided to go to college to study Visual Arts at Kutztown University. During his college years he worked stage crew for such notable performers as Emmylou Harris, Rush and Billy Joel.  After 4 years of college he moved to Long Island and started his photography business, Laurie Studio. He has been deeply involved in the art of photography for over 30years serving as president of the local chapter of the “ Professional Photographer of America “ and lecturing to professional photographers from as far west as Seattle, Washington and south to San Antonio, Texas. Along with operating a full service wedding, portrait and commercial studio, ken has instructed many non-professionals on how to get the most out of their cameras.