Anixia Tatiana - Photograph by Lily Mayfield

Adjunct faculty member Lily Mayfield has an exhibition of her photographs at The University of Illinois Chicago Student Center West Art Lounge from January 9 to February 9, 2012. The series is entitled “de Pavones” and reflects Lily’s interest in the rural surfing community of Pavones, Costa Rica, a small town that is home to the world’s second longest wave.

“Even with its attraction for surfers, Pavones remains a rural community, untouched by the typical chain hotels and restaurants you might expect to find in a tourist-driven Costa Rican town with views of the Pacific Ocean” says Lily. “My intention is to create a portrait of Pavones by photographing the residents, the many scenic spaces, and the local businesses.”

de Pavones

UIC Student Center Art Lounge
828 S. Wolcott
Chicago, IL 60612

• January 9 – February 9, 2012
• Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri, 9-5
• Opening Reception: Thursday January 19, 4-7 pm

Thomas Doggett, Crime Scene Investigator

Autopsy shots, exposed brains, photos of suicide victims – these are not your everyday portfolio photos.

But these these and other shocking photos were included in the images COD Photo Club members saw when guest speaker Thomas Doggett, CSI,  showed images from his portfolio at the last Photo Club meeting on September 11.

“Very little of what I do is like CSI on TV,” said Officer Thomas Doggett, Crime

Scene Investigator.  “Crime scene photography is a lot like photojournalism,” explained Doggett. “You try to tell a story to people that are not there.”

“97 percent is routine and boring, not like TV.”

“We shoot video and stills that have to paint the picture so people who are not there get a good idea of what happened.”

In the course of his work, Doggett investigates domestic batteries, criminal damage to property; traffic crashes, and does surveillance. (He has photographed an outlaw biker house, drug buys, protestors, as well as a perpetrator who used a pen camera to shoot up women’s skirts…) He also photographs death investigations, photo line-ups, meet and greets, awards, displays, sex offender registration, training, public relations, and maintains a photo lab.

“If you have a nosy personality, this job is for you. Everyone has to share with you.”

“I’m a nosy person,” he admitted.  “I get to see what’s going on. I get behind the tape.”

When asked if he gets upset when he sees so many unfortunate situations and tragedies, he said,  “It doesn’t bother me because I have had so many calls. It no longer seems personal. We call them a cool call.”

“You never know what case you’re going to get,” he says.

Forensic photographers need a good grounding in police methods and conventions, and a sound understanding of anatomy. They must be able to methodically record the original scene and the initial appearance of physical evidence without the photograph appealing to the emotions of the jury or in any way prejudicing the case.

They must also keep detailed records of exactly where photos were taken, the type of camera and lenses, what stock was used, and whether flash or artificial lights were used.

“I have to take wide, medium, close and extreme close-ups,” he says. Referring to one of the shots of brains he showed the group, he said, “You’re going to be close.

You’re going to smell it.”

Close-up shots of bullets used in crimes include a dental scale, to show the bullet’s size. He also photographs bullet holes. “They need to see the angle of trajectory of the bullet.” He uses gray backgrounds so he can color correct the images of the small items he photographs.

Other details of his daily work he revealed included the fact that 90 percent of his photos are shot as J-pegs, but if the shots are to be used as evidence he also shoots RAW images for comparison.  For students interested in entering the profession Doggett explained, “To be a CSI, you need to be a policeman first.”

Near the end of his presentation, Doggett advised the Photo Club in jest,

“Don’t steal at Kohl’s. Their video is awesome.”

The next Photo Club meeting will be this Sunday, November 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the COD Photo Lab.

The club will discuss selling photos at Art and Craft Fairs and social networking.

They are asking for donations of 4 x 6” prints to sell at the upcoming COD Art and Craft Fair to help raise money for the club.

They will also be collecting baked goods for the bake sale that will be held Monday November 14^th. Donated baked goods may be dropped off at the Photo Lab Desk on Friday, November 11 and 12.

If anyone has any questions, email the Photo Club at codphotoexclub@gmail.com.

Gahlberg Gallery
Beyond the Edges: Joseph D Jachna Photographs 1958-2010
Oct .13 to Nov. 26, 2011

Artist Reception: Thursday, Oct. 13, 6 to 8 pm

Images created by the the College of DuPage Photography Club will be on display at the Blackbird Gallery from October 1st through October 29.

The Gallery is located at 4428 N. Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640. The telephone number is (773) 290-8617.

The Photography Club is also participating in the Ravenswood Art Walk Saturday, October 1st and 2nd, so  stop by and enjoy their work.

There will be over 100 other Art/Craft booths  to check out. The Blackbird Gallery will be open during the Art Walk and will have additional images for sale.

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Vist the Photography Club on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/photoexclub

DuPage Framing Center in Wheaton

The College of DuPage Photography Club spent a productive and informative afternoon at the DuPage Framing Center in Wheaton on Sunday, July 17th.

Bob Greene, owner of the Dupage Framing Center, suggested that all members bring a photo to mat at no charge.  Those who brought photos were helped with selecting components that would complement their photographs, such as choosing the proper type of mat board, adding fillets, or painting the bevel.  Some club members were also interested in framing their photographs, so he showed them the different mouldings he had to offer.

Greene demonstrated how to cut a mat board and add a design to it, such as a v-groove (a thin line carved on the mat board) using his computerized mat cutter.  His assistant, Amy Hodapp, who is a current College of DuPage Photography student, was also there to help.

If students are interested in quality matting or framing,   they should stop by the shop at 276 E. Geneva Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.You can also check out the store’s website at: www.dupageframing.com.

Click to view slideshow.

The Photography Club’s next club meeting will be this Sunday, September 11.  The featured speaker is Thomas Doggett, a Forensic Photographer and alumni of College of DuPage.  He will explain the different aspects of forensic photography.  His website is http://www.thomasdoggett.com/

We hope to see you there. The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. and goes until 3:30 p.m. in the COD Photo Lounge, Art Center Room 280.

Photograph by Dave Rentauskas

Great news from COD Photo Program Alum Dave Rentauskas:

At long last, my Chicago Magazine debut! A few months back I got the opportunity to shoot a spread for the September issue of Chicago Magazine for the lovely ladies at Chalk Boutique in Evanston. The collection is by designer Chris Benz who also did the on camera styling for the shoot. Here is the final spread from the shoot. Be sure to check out the printed issue to see the shots nice and big!

Check out Dave’s blog for more info…

Congrats Dave!

The image above,”Kaleidoscope Dandelion”  won first place in Shutterbug Magazine’s Nature Photo Contest. There were almost 2500 entries in this contest and Nancy got the top prize . She won a Tamron 70-300mm DiVC USD lens. The photo was shot with a Canon Rebel XSi camera and  90mm Tamron Macro lens. .”I am surprised I won first place!”  she says.

© Bill Guest 2011

College of Du Page photography students supported Oak Brook’s Graue Mill  with unique style as contributors to “At the Mill: A Photographic Fine-Arts Exhibition” which was held from July 15-Aug. 6.

“At the Mill” was the fourth juried photography exhibition fundraiser set up by C.O.D. instructor Mary Dew’s Photographic Exhibition course students. The students organized and made all the important decisions regarding the show – everything from establishing its name, to marketing, to setting up the show, and all the details in between.

“The students are always highly motivated and very eager to learn, to get their work out there, to get feedback about their work, to learn about how to market, and just the whole aspect of the fine arts world,” said Dew.

This year, 12 students were involved and over 40 fine art photographs were on display. Fred Drury, a College of Du Page photography faculty member, served as juror for the show. Additionally, each photographer contributed one photograph of the mill. Photographs of the mill were featured separately from the rest of the portfolio pieces, mounted on easels.

Twenty percent of the show’s proceeds went to support Graue Mill’s programs.

To read more about the exhibit go to:  http://oakbrook.suntimes.com/entertainment/6535783-421/student-photo-exhibit-benefits-graue-mill.html

After an internship and then graduation from SCAD in the summer of 2007, she fell in love with video and news photography. She realized how interesting it is being a photojournalist because she gets to  meet new people, have new stories everyday, and can make a difference in the lives of others.

Amanda has shot video from planes, including a B-17 and T-6 Texan from WWII, a U.S. Army Cobra helicopter and a C-130, boats, Bradley tanks, and even more pedestrian vehicles like golf carts.

Check out Amanda’s reel:

The opening reception is on Friday, July 15 from 6:30 to 8:30PM.