Former forensic odontologist now leads Chattanooga photo group
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — February 5, 2026 — At 88 years old, Michael Sobel has spent a lifetime looking closely — first through the lens of a camera, and later through the meticulous documentation required in forensic work. Now, as the newly selected president of the Photographic Society of Chattanooga, he’s focused on helping others see what’s possible with creativity and technology.
A resident of Morning Pointe of Chattanooga Assisted Living since 2020, Sobel stays deeply engaged in community life, using photography as a way to connect people, spark curiosity, and keep creativity moving forward.
Sobel became president of the Photographic Society of Chattanooga in September 2025. Though one of the organization’s newer members, he was selected to help re-energize the group and expand its presence in the community. The society includes roughly 100 members from across the region, ranging from beginners to professional photographers.
The organization hosts educational presentations featuring renowned guest speakers, along with photography competitions in which Sobel has earned numerous medals and recognitions.
Sobel’s passion for photography began early.
“I started photography, I think, about when I was nine years old,” he said.
By age 14, he was working after school in a camera store, learning darkroom techniques, equipment handling, and customer service. He later served as his high school’s photographer and continued photographing for college publications.
Professionally, Sobel is a graduate dentist who completed residencies in oral pathology and orthodontics before practicing orthodontics in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His background in oral pathology led him into forensic work, and he ultimately became board-certified in forensic odontology. From approximately 1970 to 2010, he served as chief forensic odontologist for the Allegheny County Coroner’s Office, assisting with dental identification, crime scene documentation, and courtroom testimony.
“Of course, photography was very much a part of that,” Sobel said. “I had to document all the evidence and figure out ways of showing things in court.”
Today, Sobel continues to use photography as a way to stay active, engaged, and connected — particularly by helping others learn how to use the technology they already have. At Morning Pointe of Chattanooga, he has begun sharing informal lessons with fellow residents, focusing on cell phone photography, image restoration, and simple techniques that can dramatically improve everyday photos.
“My favorite thing is to get people out of their chairs here,” he said. “And if you give them an interest — saying, all right, you’ve got a cell phone already, so you can shoot with it — you’re creating something.”
Sobel also embraces modern tools, including artificial intelligence, while maintaining a thoughtful perspective on its role in photography.
“My take on AI is always remember it’s a tool,” Sobel said. “It is not an end to anything. And I still have to keep guiding it.”
He believes AI can support creativity, but not replace the human eye or imagination behind meaningful images.
“I don’t think they’re going to get the same quality as people like Ansel Adams and others like that who had creative minds and didn’t rely on anything else but themselves to create the picture,” he said.
For Sobel, photography remains a lifelong pursuit — one that continues to evolve and bring people together.
“It continues to open the doors,” he said. “It’s not static at all because there are new developments that come along all the time. I want to keep up with those.”
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states, including AL, GA, IN, KY & TN. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide clinical scholarships and caregiver support.
