I’ve been blessed in many ways over the years, mainly with a great family and amazing wife. But I’ve also been blessed professionally, being lucky enough to know photographers who have freely shared their knowledge and passion for photography.
When I took up photography as a hobby in 1971, I’m sure I would have dropped it and moved on to something else if not for one man. Kent Whitehead had a studio near my high school, and had offered to help any kids interested in photography. So I gave him a call, and that Friday night he took me to a football game. He didn’t just show me how to take action pictures in poor light, but after the game we returned to his studio where he demonstrated how to “push process” film. And then said I was welcome to stop by the studio any time.
When Kent wasn’t working, he was still pursuing his passion. Most Sunday morning’s he’d invite me to join him in wandering the back roads around our town, just looking for nice pictures to be made.
For the rest of high school, and most of college, I assisted Kent. Carrying equipment, holding lights, loading camera backs, learning to process film and print. He paid me, but I think he actually lost money on the deal. But he kept me on.
As I was finishing high school, I still loved photography, but didn’t want to do studio work. So entering college I became a Communications major, focused on television production. I still shot photos for the college newspaper and yearbook, though, and one day got a call that would be the second time that photography changed my life.
Randy Dieter was the Chief Photographer at one of the newspapers in my hometown of Evansville, IN. I’d met him and some of his staff while covering events at my school, and he asked if I was interested in a part-time job. I’d never considered photojournalism, but it sounded like fun, so why not. Again I was lucky, as Randy and the rest of the staff there – Michael Keating, Robert Burke and Bill Kyle – became my next photo mentors.
Over the few years I worked there they were always patient and giving of their time and knowledge. They looked at my film, offered advice and taught me the importance of paying attention to detail. I also learned to appreciate and make the most of available light and exposure, which is one of the most valuable lessons a budding photographer can learn.
Even after I left Evansville to work in Alabama, Randy and the other guys on the staff in Evansville were there for me, welcoming me home any time I returned.
In the past week I was in both Indiana and Ohio, and able to visit with Kent, Randy and Michael, all retired now. Despite health problems the last few years, Kent maintains an incredibly positive attitude, and so I continue to learn from him, only now they’re life lessons.
While Randy doesn’t do much traditional photography any more, and the digital cameras he uses today would be considered ancient by most people, his passion is still there. You can see that through the art he now does, and how he talks about both it and photography. And that’s another important thing to remember, that everyone needs passion for something in their lives.
Michael, though retired from the newspaper job he lived and loved, still pursues photography with the enthusiasm of a kid. He now splits his time between his family, a foundation he works with and a long-term photo project on Indiana basketball. And he also published a book on Cincinnati, which is a beautiful body of work.
Those are just three of the people who’ve had a huge impact on both my professional and personal lives. And I’m blessed to have met, worked and become friends with them and many others. The older I get, the more I realize it’s the people you meet and learn from that have the biggest impact on your photography. You can’t learn in a vacuum, and the best ideas are often those that come from what working with and watching other people. I hope that you too have found these friends and teachers, and continue to learn and grow from them like I have.
After all these years, I’m still learning from Kent, and blessed to have him and all the other teachers throughout the years remain an important part of my life today.