Meet us!
Byron
My fascination with Photography began when I was in High School. It was taught by Nicéphore Niépce. OK, that’s not true. It wasn’t quite that long ago. I managed to complete the Commercial Photography course. My dream was to become the Photographer in my Hometown. Thank goodness that didn’t happen. I took a job at Hennepin Technical College (the same place I was a student). I planned to work for 2 years then move on. That plan didn’t work out either because the job was interesting and I was learning to work with technologies I would never be exposed to if I was on my own. I stayed there 35 years and retired in 2011.
I like road trips. I’ve been fortunate to travel a lot over the years. It’s fun for me to take photos just for the fun of it. I spent 22 years taking photos for HTC. I rarely got to choose the subject of those photos but I did usually have freedom to choose the style of the photo.
A big change in Photography happened while I worked in the IT Dept. That was a 13 year period of time. The change was from film to digital. When I got back into photography I felt like I had gone through a time warp. Suddenly, zoom lenses are acceptable, motor drives are a thing of the past, lenses are slower, the sensors are more sensitive than film, and the biggest change was you can see the results of your photo immediately without having to use polaroid film. I have adapted very well to all this new-fangled technology. In fact I like not buying film and paying for processing or getting my hands wet in a darkroom. I don’t need a light tight room to use a computer.
On another topic, I think there are 3 food groups, BBQ, Italian and chocolate. It’s better to have lots of friends than to be a hermit. Life is better when there is no schedule.
I like road trips. I’ve been fortunate to travel a lot over the years. It’s fun for me to take photos just for the fun of it. I spent 22 years taking photos for HTC. I rarely got to choose the subject of those photos but I did usually have freedom to choose the style of the photo.
A big change in Photography happened while I worked in the IT Dept. That was a 13 year period of time. The change was from film to digital. When I got back into photography I felt like I had gone through a time warp. Suddenly, zoom lenses are acceptable, motor drives are a thing of the past, lenses are slower, the sensors are more sensitive than film, and the biggest change was you can see the results of your photo immediately without having to use polaroid film. I have adapted very well to all this new-fangled technology. In fact I like not buying film and paying for processing or getting my hands wet in a darkroom. I don’t need a light tight room to use a computer.
On another topic, I think there are 3 food groups, BBQ, Italian and chocolate. It’s better to have lots of friends than to be a hermit. Life is better when there is no schedule.
Darin
Living in Riverside, CA. Originally from Minnesota, dontcha know. Bats left. Throws left. Middle child, but I think outside the box. I like overcooked broccoli and carrots. Cauliflower is better on your plate, than on your ears. I don't drink... not since I got hammered at church. I ride my bicycle A LOT. I like going uphill, so I can look back to see where I've been. I like Vikings, Twins, Wolves, Wild and Gophers. Sweating is good. Golden Corral is good. Sweating at Golden Corral is NOT good. 2006 Upper Midwest Rake Fighting Champion. I create art. I've played Australian Football since 1998 and can speak the language like a native. Minnesota has more than 10,000 lakes... I've counted. Last night I dreamt I ate the world's largest marshmallow... I woke up to one less pillow. My 7 year old niece told her mommy that she thought I was crazy... I'm a proud uncle! I haven't seen a drive-in movie since 1977 (Star Wars). I once bit the hand that feeds... tastes like stromboli. I steal swigs of Horchata from AM/PM. My dogs like to sleep in my bed... they're big dogs. They don't spoon, they ladle. I once lived in Saudi Arabia, but can't speak the language like a native. My mom went to clown school. Clowns are creepy. I wish I had the guts to be a cage fighter. I wish I had the guts to drink expired milk. I'll eat macaroni and cheese, but save the cheese for my popcorn. I prefer a full belly over a half nelson. I rarely wear pants.
Kevin
I first started working as a photographer back in the days when dinosaurs still ruled the earth. First as a photographer for school yearbooks, then for a local weekly newspaper, then doing neighbor portraits and even occasional (gak!) weddings. Later I actually trained in commercial photography, sold in and managed camera stores, then worked as the advertising photographer for a chain of electronics stores. Eventually I moved on to another company where I worked in advertising, produced and directed television commercials, did web site development, new concept work, strategic planning and eventually mergers and acquisitions. Though it all I never gave up my original passion and enthusiasm for photography. Now photography is simply a (very) serious hobby, but I have a nice studio space to shoot in and I have my WPOTM friends that I have had the pleasure of knowing for several decades now! What could be better?
Paul
Paul, here. I am a gregarious introvert. I believe Boston cream pie is one of humanity's greatest contributions to the gustatory enjoyment. I contend that gods who smite down this and that fellow may have other nasty character traits as well. I think the sky is not the limit. I believe the opposite of the truth is myth. I think it is never too late to start not acting your age. I find the world can be a pretty lonely place if you know the right places to look. I suggest it's not the mountains in the distance that wears you down, it's the pebble in your shoe. I don’t like clowns, period. I am fairly high strung...but no more than a very good violin. I love the seductive power of a rich vocabulary. I’m glad that curiosity is the cure for boredom and that there’s no cure for curiosity. And I hold to the adage that "A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't." [Attributed to Mark Twain] And, thankful that, no matter how many times I break down, there is always a little piece of me that says “No, you’re not done yet. Get back up.” I find the world endlessly fascinating. Exception for the clowns part....
There. You have five minutes for rebuttal.
There. You have five minutes for rebuttal.
Jerry
I fell in love with photography back in the 10th grade when I took a journalism class that included 35mm cameras (Mamiya Sekor 1000 DTL – ever hear of those?) and darkroom work. After the class ended I joined the school newspaper staff and eventually became Editor-in-Chief, a highly paid and respected position at Brooklyn Center High School (no, I was a full fledged nerd). Instead of going to college to pursue journalism I decided the commercial photography class at Hennepin Technical College was more my style. That’s where I met Byron and the rest of the Braton clan.
After school I worked as an assistant for a commercial photographer in Brooklyn Center (Mel Jacobsen), spending most of my time in the basement darkroom. Deprived of sunlight for nearly a year, I began to unravel a bit so I quit that job, and took a few month break where I worked part-time for Brown Photo in Ridgedale Mall in Minnetonka. At the same time, Hennepin Tech would have me come back and help out with photo classes. During one of those classes, a doctor from the U of M medical school called and said they needed a photographer in the Surgery department – so I interviewed for the job, got it, and have been there now for 38 years. The work there involved a lot of 35mm slides and darkroom work. The subjects ranged from blood and guts to copy work of data for class use and publication.
During most of that time, I photographed weddings on the weekends for extra cash. At the height of my career, I was shooting about 30 weddings a year, now I rarely take any. Now I kind of cringe when people call about wedding pix – guess that’s my gut telling me to quit. These days I’m working just 30 hours a week at the U and hope to retire in three years. I’m used to being busy and on sort of a treadmill so to speak – I hope being part of the WPOTM will help me slow down and enjoy life more!
After school I worked as an assistant for a commercial photographer in Brooklyn Center (Mel Jacobsen), spending most of my time in the basement darkroom. Deprived of sunlight for nearly a year, I began to unravel a bit so I quit that job, and took a few month break where I worked part-time for Brown Photo in Ridgedale Mall in Minnetonka. At the same time, Hennepin Tech would have me come back and help out with photo classes. During one of those classes, a doctor from the U of M medical school called and said they needed a photographer in the Surgery department – so I interviewed for the job, got it, and have been there now for 38 years. The work there involved a lot of 35mm slides and darkroom work. The subjects ranged from blood and guts to copy work of data for class use and publication.
During most of that time, I photographed weddings on the weekends for extra cash. At the height of my career, I was shooting about 30 weddings a year, now I rarely take any. Now I kind of cringe when people call about wedding pix – guess that’s my gut telling me to quit. These days I’m working just 30 hours a week at the U and hope to retire in three years. I’m used to being busy and on sort of a treadmill so to speak – I hope being part of the WPOTM will help me slow down and enjoy life more!
Don
Born, lived and worked in the twin cities most of my life. When a retirement opportunity from Hennepin Technical College came, I packed up and moved to New Mexico. Almost no snow, only slapped one mosquito in 5 years and the sun is cooking me almost every day. I live in the northwest corner of New Mexico and love it. Expect lots of pictures of sand and rocks.
I bought my first camera while at Fort Bragg, NC. It was one of those Polaroid things that you could watch the picture develop while you held it. Fortunately someone stole it while at Fort Dix, NJ forcing me to consider a SLR. So, picked up a Konica SLR while in Vietnam, enjoyed taking photos ever since. Never knew what I was doing but had years of fun with that camera.
I was an Instructor Hennepin Technical College for 30 years. I got to know Byron when I moved from Eden Prairie campus to the Brooklyn Park campus. I learned how to use Power Point while attending a Byron Braton teacher training. I think it was Power Point for dummies. The class worked because I started inserting digital photos I took into Power Point presentations I was using for teaching.
Now I find myself happily living in Farmington, NM, riding a Harley Davidson from mountains to deserts. I am the editor of a newsletter for the local HOG (Harley Owners Group), consisting of primarily our ride pictures I take with a Coolpix AW110. It is waterproof and I can operate it with one hand. I now make presentations for the monthly HOG meeting.
When I first moved here I needed a camera to replace the Nikon I had in Minnesota. I picked up a Canon 60D, set it on “Auto” and then went about taking pictures of everything around here. Well someone told me there was more to taking pictures then “Auto.” I then started taking Photography classes at San Juan College in an effort to learn how to operate a camera and properly take photographs. After three semesters I know a tiny bit. Fall semester I start another Photography course. I prefer shooting RAW with a JPG.
A couple of months ago the State of Minnesota refunded to me some money owed. A month ago I ordered and received a Nikon D810, lenses and a flash. I use Photoshop and Lightroom to edit photos though I am not sure whether or not I like Lightroom. I have been using Photoshop since the previous century as Byron can attest because he has been the victim of some of my efforts.
I bought my first camera while at Fort Bragg, NC. It was one of those Polaroid things that you could watch the picture develop while you held it. Fortunately someone stole it while at Fort Dix, NJ forcing me to consider a SLR. So, picked up a Konica SLR while in Vietnam, enjoyed taking photos ever since. Never knew what I was doing but had years of fun with that camera.
I was an Instructor Hennepin Technical College for 30 years. I got to know Byron when I moved from Eden Prairie campus to the Brooklyn Park campus. I learned how to use Power Point while attending a Byron Braton teacher training. I think it was Power Point for dummies. The class worked because I started inserting digital photos I took into Power Point presentations I was using for teaching.
Now I find myself happily living in Farmington, NM, riding a Harley Davidson from mountains to deserts. I am the editor of a newsletter for the local HOG (Harley Owners Group), consisting of primarily our ride pictures I take with a Coolpix AW110. It is waterproof and I can operate it with one hand. I now make presentations for the monthly HOG meeting.
When I first moved here I needed a camera to replace the Nikon I had in Minnesota. I picked up a Canon 60D, set it on “Auto” and then went about taking pictures of everything around here. Well someone told me there was more to taking pictures then “Auto.” I then started taking Photography classes at San Juan College in an effort to learn how to operate a camera and properly take photographs. After three semesters I know a tiny bit. Fall semester I start another Photography course. I prefer shooting RAW with a JPG.
A couple of months ago the State of Minnesota refunded to me some money owed. A month ago I ordered and received a Nikon D810, lenses and a flash. I use Photoshop and Lightroom to edit photos though I am not sure whether or not I like Lightroom. I have been using Photoshop since the previous century as Byron can attest because he has been the victim of some of my efforts.
Elroy
I enjoy biking and have been going on Ragbrai (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) since 1978. The name of our bicycling club is Team NAD (Not Against Drinking). I worked in the Property and Casualty Insurance field for 34 years. When I first started in claims I had to take a lot of photos. I started with a small camera with fixed lens, just point and shoot. Later I obtained a Miranda SLR I don’t remember the model number. I have been hooked since then.
Most of my life has been spent in Iowa. Since 2003 I split my time between Urbandale, IA and Tempe, AZ. I enjoy the bug free warm winters. I like the landscape, biking, photography and hiking.
Relax, you will get there.
Most of my life has been spent in Iowa. Since 2003 I split my time between Urbandale, IA and Tempe, AZ. I enjoy the bug free warm winters. I like the landscape, biking, photography and hiking.
Relax, you will get there.