Advertisement Hemker won the Class B open division for her shot called “Staircase.” Gates won two first place awards — one for “The Hayrake,” an entrant in the Class B Black and White division, and another for “Bluecoat” in the Class B People and Human Interest division. Meanwhile, Johnson walked off with the Photograph of the Year award for his “Happy in the Hot Tub” shot.
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Owen Johnson of Onalaska won La Crosse Area Camera Club Photograph of the Year honors for the above photo, "Happy in the Hot Tub." |
Like many great photos, Hemker’s was the result of looking at something in a different way.
“I was in Chicago at the Museum of Modern Art with a couple of friends, and they were walking up the stairs ahead of me,” she recalled. “I looked up and said “Oh, my gosh — I’ve got to get a picture of this!”
A member of the LACC for six years, Hemker is enthusiastic about the benefits of membership.
“There are a lot of older, experienced photographers who will help you,” she said. “I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be a better photographer.”
Gates’ “Hayrake,” shot near Arcadia, was also the result of looking at the ordinary in a different way.
“They (judges) are always looking for something a little different. I did a side view and there it was,” Gates said.
“Bluecoat” was taken during a Civil War re-enactment near Westby and was the result of being in the right place at the right time.
“We were off to the side taking pictures and he (the soldier) was right there resting on the side of the hill,” she recalled of her winning shot.
Gates’ awards are all the more remarkable when one considers she’s only had a digital camera for a year, about the same length of time she has been in the LACC. Like the other winners, she had nothing but praise for the club. “I’ve learned a lot — it’s been very helpful,” she said.
Johnson’s “Happy in the Hot Tub,” taken after the Polar Plunge on the Black River last year, is an example of the benefits of belonging to a camera club.
“The feedback from others is the club is great — you learn so much,” Johnson said. “We’ve got some older, very experienced photographers in the club and their advice can really make a difference.”
In Johnson’s case, he took the advice of veteran club member John Zoreb.
“John said ‘That’s a nice photo, but I bet if would be even better if you cropped out some of the other people in the picture,’” Johnson recalled. He did just that and was rewarded with Photograph of the Year.
“That surprised me big time,” said Johnson, who is also president of the LACC. Lest anyone think his honor was the result of favoritism, the club picks judges from outside the club for its year-end awards.
The LACC has been in existence since 1937. It meets twice a month in the library of the Wesley Methodist Church in La Crosse and is open to anyone interested in photography. The LACC is the only camera club in the state affiliated with the North Central Camera Club Council, an organization that includes 45 clubs in 11 states. In September 2010, the N4C will hold its annual convention in La Crosse.
“It should be a big deal,” Johnson said. “There will be over 100 photographers coming in, and we’ve got some good speakers lined up. There will be fees for some of the talks, but anyone can participate — they won’t have to be members of the club.”
