NATJA - North American Travel Journalists Association

Terry Zinn

Biography

Terry Zinn is a native Oklahoman, graduating from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. In 1973 he received his Masters of Arts Degree from the University of Cincinnati. From 1971 to 1976 he served in the United States Army Reserves, leaving honorably with a rank of E5.

As part of the beginning his photography career, in 1979, Zinn attended several photography workshops at the Oklahoma Art Institute Quartz Mountain under Paul Caponigro, Philip Hyde, Marsha Burns and Jon Burris. He exhibited at one man and joint photography exhibitions at Arts Place, Norick Art Center, Center of the American Indian, Governors and East Gallery State Capitol Building, Gallery of the Plans Indian, City Arts Center, Center of Contemporary Arts, Jacobsen House and the Great Plains Museum, as an example.

In 1983 he received a Diamond Jubilee Certificate from Governor George Nigh, for his photography work with Ballet Oklahoma. Governor Henry Bellmon presented him with one of his two Centennial Certificates, in 1989 fro his “Spirit of Red Earth Portfolio. The Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce presented Zinn with the other Certificate for his photographs of “The Last Pioneers.”

One of Zinn’s photographs was chosen in 1992 out of 1500 entries as the cover for the book, “Spirit of Oklahoma.” The book was about Oklahoma by Oklahoma photographers. Another of his photographs was chosen for inclusion in the book. Upon invitation his work was chosen for publication in Oklahoma Today Magazine’s year end review issue of 1994.

From 1979 to 1990 Zinn was theatrical director and photographer for Florence Birdwell’s annual on woman concerts at Oklahoma City University.

Zinn Began working with international public relation firms in 1987 as a travel writer and photographer. He was hired by Radisson to photograph the christening of their cruise ship the Diamond on the Thames in London. His articles and photographs have appeared in The Sunday Oklahoman, Oklahoma Home and Lifestyle, Persimmon Hill, Country Home, Oklahoma Gazette, Travel Life, Time, Life among others.

His travel writing and photography has taken him to world wide locations.

Zinn was a founding member of the Lyric Theatre Associate Board in 1979. He served as the President of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association in 2002, and is a current Board Member of City Rep Theatre.

In 1989, Zinn began work as photographer with the Oklahoma Historical Society, which continues to the present.

Credits

•The Sunday Oklahoma Newspaper
•Persimmon Hill Magazine
•Oklahoma Gazette
•Friday Newspaper
•Time
•Newsweek

Affiliations

•North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA)
•Past President (2002) and Vice President of IFWTWA