I have owned a camera for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I loved taking photos on family vacations. From film to digital, I have used them all. I have photographed weddings on film using a Mamiya C220 camera -- all manual settings. That was a lot of pressure, and anything could go wrong. Lucky for me, it never did. After I stopped shooting weddings, I shot for fun. I photographed anything. I used a Minolta 700 with a motor drive and processed my slides and Cibachrome prints. All this was a great learning experience to build and grow in today’s digital world. After a

slow change over to digital, my first digital camera was an Olympus, which I used for years until it broke. After that, I had the chance to get a full-frame mirrorless camera, Nikon or Cannon. I chose the Nikon Z6, which was Nikon’s entry-level mirrorless camera. I used that and learned the mirrorless process. Now I have retired and was able to purchase the Nikon Z9. I still shoot everything and anything and don’t have a style. I like to capture what I see, and although “AI” fascinates me, I don’t add, alter, or manipulate any more than necessary to capture the scene. I now have my Older Nikon F-mount lenses -- 24-85mm, 70-300mm, Sigma 105mm Macro, and a Rokinon14mm. Z-mount lenses (no adapter) -- Laowa 10-18mm super wide, Nikkor 24-200mm, Nikkor 400mm, Nikon 2.0x teleconverter. Also, a Godox V1n Speedlight, which is about half the cost of the Nikon version.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lens-cap/

My first memories of photography were watching my father use his twin-lens reflex camera and helping in the darkroom when I was about 4. I could move the pictures from the stop bath to the fixer and water bath. Growing up and into college, photography seemed to be a lot of work without much satisfaction. After being introduced to SLR cameras in college, photography became interesting again. I traveled extensively and created many travel photo albums and slide trays. I waited a long time before getting my first digital camera, a Canon Rebel XT. That spelled the demise of my film cameras and black-and-white darkroom. I was hooked. Photography was not nearly as much effort. Having worked extensively with computers in engineering, organizing, modifying, and storing digital files seems much more practical. Now entering the mirrorless world, I enjoy the added automation, control, and new equipment options. Though I have photographed weddings and graduations for friends and family, wildlife and travel are my main interests. After 60 years, I am comfortable with the basics of the technical side of creating a photograph; it is time to slow down and concentrate on the artistic aspects. Being an active member of camera clubs for 30 years and PSA since 2019, I have participated in many contests, held club offices, and participated in competition judging.

My name is Ian Dickmann, and I have been creating photographs since I bought my first DSLR (Sony a200) in 2008. While I enjoy many photography styles, categories, and subjects, my favorite work focuses on urban ultra-wide and macro photography. I view photography as a mixture of art and science, requiring technical and calculated thinking and artistic and creative skills. Please visit my website at www.boukou.xyz for additional photos.

Jeffrey Ewig is a nature and landscape photographer from Cedar Grove, Wisconsin. Over the last 30 years, Jeff has honed his camera skills to capture all nature offers. Jeff enjoys photographing Wisconsin State Parks, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, fall colors, winter scenes, auto racing, and the shoreline harbor areas of the Great Lakes. You may run across some of Jeff’s work on current Wisconsin State Park system publications. Jeff owns Ewig’s Market in Port Washington, where his works can be viewed, or visit his website at https://jeffrey-ewig.pixels.com.

Favorite genres: nature, macro, street, birds and wildlife.

I have always been a lover of art, photography, and nature. With the advent of the digital age, I started as a documentarian, sending photos about my life and new home to my mother so she would not worry. My love for photography grew with time, and I moved up to my first DSLR in 2012. When you see me, you can ask me about my hilarious, full-on experience of committing myself by joining a local camera club. Those wonderful people at Riveredge Photo Club took me under their wing and helped me grow. 2016 I joined the Menomonee Falls Camera Club for additional education and photographic opportunities. What I treasure most about this journey is the lifelong friendships I have made through my club affiliations.

I continue to pursue my passion and can't wait to see what I will shoot next!

Bernard Hall’s passion for photography began in high school when he learned to develop black-and-white films in graphic arts class. His first camera was a Canon AE 1. He has been using Canon ever since. His current camera is a Canon Rebel XSi. It’s old, but it still works. Along the way, Bernard was a photographer for his high school yearbook and his college newspaper- the UWSP Pointer. Now, back to being a photography hobbyist, Bernard likes to photograph black and white photos, pets, and still life scenes. Bernard also likes to photograph what he calls ‘period photography,’ in which he tries to make scenes look like they were photographed years ago in the days of film to silver plates. For post-processing, Bernard uses Photoshop. You can see more of his portfolios at www.bernardhall.org.

My name is Joe Higdon and I have been taking photos since high school days.. I was “the family” photographer at all family gatherings and a few weddings. Over the years I have had the opportunity to travel a great deal and the camera has always been with me. I think one day I’ll look back and use those many photos to help remember what the world was like in “the good old days”.

My photographic interest range from macro, floral, architectural, landscapes, travel and lately black and white imaging. My equipment of choice is Canon and I have a wide range of lenses to match the two digital bodies I utilize. I believe the art of photography is a combination of the art of seeing and the technical skills somewhat necessary to make it all happen.

With the advent of digital, I have ventured into the many opportunities available to continue to learn the many techniques to generate photos that were difficult if not possible to achieve in the darkroom. I have a range of photographic programs and have taken advantage of many seminars and all that is offered on youtube and other web sites.. Membership in this club has been so beneficial in learning various skills and in seeing what fellow photographers are producing.

“Photography to me is about making memories of today so they will be memories for family and friends tomorrow!”

Karl returned to photography seriously in the Fall of 2007 after his son handed him his DSLR and strongly suggested he leave the house and return to his love of photographing sports car racing. He combined cars with bicycling racing with the encouragement of an auto racing photographer and a bike racer at his office.

In the past, Karl had done some photography in high school and college but focused on his career in architecture and his family. So after his wife passed, photography, specifically sports, was a perfect interest to combine with bicycling. He found focusing on the true amateur (the weekend warrior) provided some of the best opportunities to capture the intensity of the person and the true essence of the sport. He also enjoys chronicling interesting people at different venues, the urban landscape, and its elements.

A longtime resident of southeastern Wisconsin, Karl is a practicing architect, a member of the Menomonee Falls Camera Club, a member of the Wisconsin PSA Chapter since 2010 (Secretary since 2013), and a PSA Digital Dialogue Sport Group #59 member. His primary sports subjects include a full range of bicycle, auto, motorcycle racing, speed skating, and rugby, all available in his area.

Highly appreciative of being able to earn his PPSA (late 2014), he thanks photography for helping him see and appreciate the many sights around us and meeting the many people who share his interest in photography (you can’t easily hide a camera around your neck, especially if you have a telephoto attached). He is also very appreciative of the true amateur and professional photographers who are always willing to provide tips on improving.

Jeffrey Klug has been a photographer for over 40 years; he owns Jeffrey R Klug Photography LLC, an online gallery, and teaches photography. He specializes in fine art photography, emphasizing landscapes, architecture, and racing. He teaches photography, Lightroom, and Photoshop. Jeffrey has taught classes in photography, Adobe Photoshop, and Lightroom at the UW-Waukesha and Washington County, Moraine Park Technical College, South Western Michigan Camera Clubs Council (SWMCCC), CAPS School for Chicago Area Camera Clubs Association, and at Wisconsin Area Camera Clubs Organization (WACCO). See my website, www.jrklug.com, for fine art photographs and Education opportunities.

My photography hobby started with selling sports photos from High School to the MF News in the 1960s. I try for decent shots of birds and other animals. I worked in TV journalism in the 70s and Quality Engineering since then. I am retired...

"Pat has photographed for many years. Pat bought his first digital EOS camera in 2006. He enjoys trying different styles of photography. His favorite things to photograph are Landscapes, zoo animals, and flowers using Macro. Pat watches all sorts of tips on photography on YouTube to expand his knowledge of photography. Pat has improved his photography skills with photo composition, lighting, camera settings, Photoshop, and Lightroom. Please see his website at www.patlynchphoto.com.”

Photography allows me to explore new and familiar places;

to better understand myself and the world.

I use my camera for self-expression and to share the beauty I find.

From people to nature,

I’m intrigued and hope to pass along some of the hidden world that I find –

https://www.facebook.com/NeedToBreathePhotos

I have been taking pictures since I was a kid. My first camera was an old plastic Ansco B&W camera. My first SLR was a Fujica ST701 I bought in high school, and I now have a Pentax K-3. My pictures will give you an idea of the subjects I like to photograph, which are many.

Bill Rietz passed away quietly the day after Thanksgiving. Bill was very involved in the Menomonee Falls Camera Club; he joined the club in 1976, a year after it was originally founded. He would be a member for over 40 years; we only have a few members who have been there that long or longer. In 1977-78 he was Vice President of the club, and in 1978-79 he was President. He joined the Program committee in 1979 and was still on the committee, helping plan their meetings till 2019. He was the treasurer of the club from 2006 till 2019. Everyone was always amazed that he would welcome every member by their first name as they entered the meeting. At that same time, he was also the club secretary, making the room arrangements and working with the Recreational Department for our meeting needs. He also set up our Photo of the Month displayed in the Hallway to our meeting room. Every month, he would get a photo from one of our members to put in that display. He was usually at most of our outings, from shooting college sports to the Renaissance’s Faire. He traveled to SWMCCC for over 20 years with a group of club members for SWMCCC’s summer weekend, something he enjoyed doing, being able to meet with other camera club members from many different states.

Bill was also a part of WACCO from 1985 till the end of 2019. He started in WACCO as a delegate, and the first committee he was on was the competition committee from 1985 until about 1992; he was Vice President from 1988-89 and became President from 1989 to 1993. He was one of the first delegates appointed to the Awards committee in 1992 (Kathy Braun was the first Chairperson) and, in 1994, became the chairman till his recent resignation in 2019. He was deeply fond of WACCO, always believing in what a positive force WACCO is for the state of Wisconsin.

Menomonee Falls Camera Club and Wisconsin Area Camera Clubs Organization, will miss Bill's dedication to each group. It shows what a real volunteer Bill was. He will be missed by many of us.