<protect>Glenn</protect> I have had my work published in The Woodstock Independent, a local newspaper (a few tear sheets are at http://glenn.powers.meaning.com/mystory/twi/ ), the Bradley Scout, the student newspaper here at Bradley University and my high school yearbook ( http://glenn.powers.meaning.com/mystory/hs/memorare-1996/ ). I've also had my work exhibited in the Cullum-Davis Library on campus.
I began photographing in grade school, but didn't get into it seriously until sophomore year of high school, when I was the main (and often the only) photographer for my high school yearbook. I learned film developing and printing on my own. I shot about 10,000 pictures that year. (no joke, the yearbook went far over budget, but I learned a lot).
That same year, I started working for the local paper, The Woodsock Independent. (I'm from Woodstock, Illinois.) I shot mostly sports and high school activites for the paper. I also started working for a local photo studio where I shot sports and eventually did some wedding photogrpahy. I never really liked sports or shooting sports, but there was a demand for it.
Through out high school, I was certain that I wanted to be a photojournalist. I was heavily influenced by the work of W. Eugene Smith and his life (as documented in "Shadow and Substance: the Life and Work of an American Photogrpaher" by Jim Hughes).
Then came college. After having to struggle with the communications deptmart to be allowed to take photography classes my freshman year, I quick became disenchanted with the Photography program at Bradley University. I strongly considered transferring to the Rochester Institute of Technology, because they have one of the top photo programs in the country. However, at the same time, I was having second thoughts about my career choice.
I wanted to make a difference in the world. I had thought photographer was a powerful tool to bring about changed. But I began to realize that most people just didn't care. I also became more aware of the realities of actually getting a job in the field, that being that newspaper photographers were over worked, underpaid and seldom allowed to created compelling images. Newspaper photojournalism ment head shots and hand shakes at press conferences, with an occasional spot news shot.
While there was a great deal of money in advertising photography, it was not something that I wanted to be a part of. Photojournalism is about revealing truths, advertising photogrpahy is about creating deceptions.
I have always been pretty good with computers. I setup Bradley's first student run server for email, web services and amateur radio applications. Since then, I designed Bradley's main web page. And worked with InterLabs, the interdisplanary computer group (http://www.bradley.edu) and at the Global Communications Center (http://gcc.bradley.edu/com/) doing systems administration, networking, andweb page design.
Last summer, I ran my own consulting firm specializing in web page design (http://www.november.net/edc/) and am presently working for CyberDesic Communications (http://www.cyberdesic.com) as part of the digital imaging group.
I still love black and white photogrpahy, but I must get a job in another field to fulfill other goals.
My web site is my attempt to share the meaningful pictures I have captured.