Meryl Spiegel is a photographer, writer and college professor who has worked in a range of areas since graduating from Syracuse University's School of Public Communications with a major in journalism. In 2001, she earned her MFA in English & Writing from Long Island University.

With the original intent of writing and producing film documentaries, she has evolved into a photographic artist who records the people, land and water around her, sometimes combining images with text. "After working at Time-Life Films, I realized that making documentaries was a very complicated, expensive group effort and that I would prefer creating mini-documentaries on my own by focusing on the still image," she said.

Relying on a Hasselblad medium-format camera, she continues to shoot all her images on film. She, then, scans the negatives into a computer and prints them digitally. "I have not yet found a digital camera that can replicate the results I get on film with my Hasselblad," Meryl said.

Recently, she completed a book of photo/essays exploring street life in and around Manhattan, entitled WANDERING NEW YORK, and is seeking a publisher. "Combining words with images provides a deeper means of expression to the artist and a deeper level of understanding to the viewer," she said.

In the early 80s, Meryl began taking photography courses at the International Center of Photography and travelled to the Rencontres de la Photographie in Arles, France. A few years ago, she returned to the South of France to study digital printing at the Image-Ouverte Photography School.

Meanwhile, she has also worked as a freelance journalist and has published over 30 feature articles on social issues for The New York Times - Long Island Section, including numerous cover stories.

In 2002, she began teaching at the college level and created a course entitled "Writing Through The Lens." This honors course incorporates writing techniques she has developed through her photography.

Meryl Spiegel lives on the East End of Long Island with her husband and daughter.