Don Martel was born in Windsor, Canada's most southern city. 

While attending courses in Business Administration, photography grabbed his attention. Studies brought him an 11-year career in the computer field that had him traveling from coast to coast in Canada and the United States but numerous photographic workshops prepared him for the inevitable -- a switch to his true passion and current mainstay, photography. 


In 1999 Martel’s career highlight was undoubtedly his collaboration with Freeman Patterson during spring workshops in New Brunswick. This was followed by co-lectures with Marike Bruwer on multiple workshops on the west coast of South Africa in 2001.

 In the fall of 2001 he conducted two, one-week workshops at Singing Sands near Tobermory with Marike. Since then, he has held weeklong workshops every spring and fall with James Sidney on the Bruce Peninsula.

 Since 2005, Martel has offered visual design workshops in his hometown of Tecumseh Ontario. Freelancing for the last 20 years has brought him a wide variety of experiences and a wealth of assignments.

In 2007, he was featured on CBC’s live radio program ‘Ontario Today’ answering questions from the audience about photography. He’s also been featured in numerous Canadian newspapers about his photograph goodwill trip to his hometown’s sister city, Tsumeb, Namibia, Africa which nearly ended his life. Escaping this tragedy has renewed his zest for life.

Martel is the founder of the Windsor Photo Guild, which hosts the Windsor International Photo Seminar each November.

He has also given lectures and presentations to many groups including Windsor Camera Club, Mississauga Camera Club, London Camera Club, Lake Shore Camera Club, Huntsville Camera Club, and presenter at Niagara Falls Regional Camera Clubs Fall seminar 2005.

Publications:

Kodak.com, National Geographic Society, Spaceweather.com Discovery Channel.  Photo Life, Photo Digest, Borealis, Science Probe,  Best Wishes,  The Record,  Windsor Chamber of Commerce,  Windsor Tourism, Business Life,  Windsor This Month,  Best Wishes,  The Windsor Star,