Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum Celebrating 131 Years Exhibit Catalog

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

© 2017 Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum All Rights Reserved
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum 47 W. Polk Street M-7, Chicago , IL 60605

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We’d like to thank our officers and Board members and give special acknowledgement for the
dedication and efforts of the committee who worked on “Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum -
Celebrating 131 Years” project.
Emily Deam - Board Member - Publicity, Sponsorship
Ted Donahue - President - Accounting, Logistics, Researcher, Writer
Robin Heiss - Treasurer
Karen I. Hirsch - Immediate Past President - Designer, Publicity, Sponsorship, Writer,
Lionel Jeffers - Board Member
George Philosophos - Board member
Charapin Pongtornpipat - Sponsorship, Writer
Barbara Ro -Board Member - Location Coordinator, Time Management
Bill Sewell - Board Member - Writer, Publicity, Sponsorship
Mike Schwartz - Board member - Communications
Sharon Zingery - Researcher
We would like to also acknowledge our generous sponsors for this event.
Eli’s Cheesecake
Practical Angle
Thank you to the Palette & Chisel for facilitating our exhibition.
We are grateful for the recognition given to our organization by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner.

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
From May 18 - 28, 2017, Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum hosted an exhibition at the
Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Art to celebrate 131 years of enhancing the skills of Chicago
photographers. This exhibition featured work by current Forum members and also highlighted
the Forum’s significant role in the history of photography. An opening reception took place on
Friday, May 19th from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. The event was free and open to the public.
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum traces its history back to the founding of the Chicago
Lantern Slide Club in 1886. It has evolved through a number of transitions to become the organization
that exists today. For 131 years, this succession of clubs has fostered the art and craft
of photography through lectures, hands-on workshops, outings, discussions, competitions, and
exhibitions.
Over the years, some of the world’s renowned and influential photographers have been involved
with events at Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum and its predecessor clubs. These include
Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Margaret Bourke-White, Edward Weston, Yousuf Karsh,
Yasuhiro Ishimoto, Jay Maisel and Pulitzer prize winners John White and Ovie Carter.
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum holds regular meetings on Fridays at 7:30 PM. It is located
at Dearborn Station, 47 West Polk Street, Mezzanine room 7. Meetings are open to the public.
www.chicagophotoforum.org

HISTORICAL TIMELINE
1886
Chicago Lantern Slide Club is founded - This group is devoted exclusively
to the making and viewing of stereopticon pictures - It participates in the
American Lantern Slide Interchange between clubs in U.S. and Canada.
Darkrooms
1889
1892
Chicago Camera Club (original) is formed at the Art Institute of Chicago.
It builds its own facilities including studio, two darkrooms, library and meeting
area at 182 N. Wabash.
Associate Member of the original Chicago Camera Club Mrs. Stuyvesant
Peabody documents the preparations of the Columbian Exposition in
Chicago.
1895
Chicago Lantern Slide Club is reorganized as the Chicago Society of
Amateur Photographers. At around the same time, the Chicago Camera
Club (original) disappeared from any records that we could find. It is
speculated that they also merged into this group.
1900
First Photographic Salon at the Art Institute of Chicago is jointly produced
by the Chicago Society of Amateur Photographers in conjunction
with the Art Institute. Alfred Stieglitz, a juror, meets Edward Steichen for
the first time at the Salon.
1904
Chicago Society of Amateur Photographers is disbanded. Some of its
members form the Chicago Camera Club.
1904
to
1930’s
Chicago Camera Club sponsors annual photo salons at the Art Institute of
Chicago. Exhibitors included Margaret Bourke White, Imogen Cunningham,
Yousef Karsh and many other prominent photographers of that time.
1924
Fort Dearborn Camera Club begins in a South Side photo shop in Hyde
Park. Shop owner Ralph Hawkins becomes its first president. Unlike the Chicago
Camera Club, Fort Dearborn Camera Club includes women members.

“hikes”
1924
Fort Dearborn Camera Club members often go on excursions they called “hikes” to
photograph in places as far away as Willow Springs and Palos Park.
first
photo
school
1927
1928
1928
1929
24 members of Fort Dearborn Camera Club have a total of 586 acceptances in 42
international salons including Paris, London, Belgium, Warsaw, Budapest and Japan.
The first newsletter of Fort Dearborn appears in October, 1928 and is called “The Fixing
Bath.” That issue reports the details of 50 acceptances and honorable mentions in
seven international salons by club members.
Fort Dearborn Camera Club begins its first photographic school.
The Chicago Camera Club holds the first Chicago international photographic salon at
the Art Institute of Chicago. The following year, there were 1300 prints entered from
around the world.
1930s
to 1940s
mid 1930s
1931
The Chicago Camera Club members go on outings to the cottage which they own at the
Indiana Dunes.
The Miniature Camera Club (35mm cameras) merges with Fort Dearborn Camera Club.
Fort Dearborn Camera Cub is incorporated as a 501C7 social club.
1932-1933
Dr. Max Thorek becomes president of Fort Dearborn Camera Club. He is a proponent
of Pictorialism. Fort Dearborn becomes a major contributor to the Pictorialist movement.
Dialog is carried on with the “Modernist Movement” which included Edward
Weston and Ansel Adams.
1933
Chicago Camera Club hosts an International Photographic Salon, with more than 700
photos, at the Century of Progress in the Graphics Pavillion.

1934
Fort Dearborn Camera Club participates in the founding of the Photographic Society
of America. Fort Dearborn member Dr. Max Thorek is PSA’s first president.
1940s
During World War II , Fort Dearborn Camera Club helps with recycling, mentors service
men with darkroom printing and editorializes for tolerance of Japanese Americans.
(Harry Shigeta, our Board director at the time, was born in Japan.)
ISHIMOTO
1948
Yasuhiro Ishimoto, who studied with Harry Callahan at the Institute of Design, becomes
a member of Fort Dearborn Camera Club. He was recommended for membership
by Harry Shigeta, co-owner of Shigeta-Wright commercial studio. Ishimoto later
returns to Japan where he grew up and is named a national treasure.
1948
to
1990s
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Camera Club contributes prints of Chicago to the Chicago
Historical Society (now the Chicago History Museum) archive. The idea for this project
came from Stuyvesant Peabody, member of the Chicago Camera Club and Board
member of the Chicago Historical Society. Thousands of prints for the archive were
contributed by members of the clubs belonging to the Chicago Area Camera Club Association,
co-sponsor of this “Chicagoland in Pictures” project.
220 S.
State
Street
1951
1980’s
Fort Dearborn Camera Club and the Chicago Camera Club merge to become the Fort
Dearborn-Chicago Camera Club.
Membership grows to 275. Its headquarters at 220 S. State Street is expanded to include
six darkrooms, library, meeting space, two studios and exhibition area. In 1984, Fort
Dearborn-Chicago Camera Club moves to 33 E. Congress Parkway.
1987
“24 Hours in Chicago” photo shoot is organized in which 87 photographers document
Chicago during a 24 hour period. Selected photos from this project are
included in a traveling exhibition at the State of Illinois Center (James R. Thompson
Center), City Hall and Dearborn Station. A 52 week calendar is produced and sold
at local stores including Marshall Fields. Bill Kurtis and John White are the honorary
chairmen of this project.

I year. Photographers from 88 countries
tography competition and exhibit this
ed its first international online pho-
host-
Forum Photo Dearborn-Chicago
Fort
anniversary, 115th its of honor n
Competition
By Karen I. Hirsch
Hosts
1st Online
Historic
Organization
Chicago Area Camera Club Association.
development to learning from photographers whom he has met in the
Nature Photographic Society. He attributes part of his photographic
Bolak belongs to the Garden Photographic Society and Riverwoods
tion 2010 exhibit.
excellence and is included in the International Photography Competi-
A second image of Bolak’s, “Gerbera Daisy,” received an award of
are visually pleasing to the eye and have a strong impact.
due to its complementary red and green colors. Paired together, they
well so works image winning his that believes He subject. original the
transcends
that composition a in detail amazing its portraying and
subject
exceptional an finding in satisfaction great derives Bolak
since.” ever passion
photo
major my been has that and small,’ ‘very the of world new
whole a discovered I them, photograph to how and plants about more
learned I “As stated. he grow,” plants how about myself educate to
useful in his development as a photographer. “I started taking photos
related that his education in science and art has proven
Don years,
12 than more for photographer serious A profession. by architect
Don Bolak is an avid amateur photographer who is a landscape
Bolak Don Category:
Nature in Place First and Year the of Photographer
The top 30 images were selected by es-
Beach, FL.
Beach Photographic Centre in West Palm
a gold passport to Fotofusion at the Palm
ceived prizes from Manfrotto, Tamrac and
$8000 in awards. The overall winner re-
than more contributed Apollo, by Lab
the and Corel Camera, Central mand,
De-
on Canvas including Sponsors,
states. U.S. 37 from Qatar—and to gentina
Ar-
countries—from 16 from came trants
en-
while site, Web competition its visited
the Year.”
Bolak was also named “Photographer of
score by all three judges. Subequently,
being ranked unanimously with the top
Colors,” was named “Best of Show” after
Don Bolak’s image “Complementary
of Reality). Of those, Wheeling, IL resident
Place, Still Life, People and Alteration
in each of five categories (Nature,
winner
place first the chose jurors The
June. in Gallery Morpho at exhibited were
photos 30 The Chicago. in Gallery Morpho
of owner Leigh, David and magazines; ture
AfterCap-
and Rangefinder of editor Hurter,
Bill agency; advertising Burnett Leo at ducer
buyer/pro-
art Bilbrey, industry—Michael
photography
the in professionals teemed
more of his images at www.darrisharris.com.
shop area, subject of “Sears Power House #2.” See
One of the places he documented was the machine
about a month capturing images of the decayed edifice.
students from surrounding neighborhoods. Harris spent
House before its conversion to a learning center for
to capture what remained of the once bustling Power
to downtown Chicago. In 2006, artists were invited
Sears complex until the company’s 1973 relocation
supplied heating and cooling for the entire 55-acre
this structure
in machinery The 1905. in completed was
photo,
Harris’ in depicted House, Power Sears The
projects.
architectural photograph to missioned
com-
is who photographer commercial a is He years. 18
past the for Chicago in living been has and KS Wichita,
in born Midwesterner a is Harris category. Place the
in place first a him earned House,” Power “Sears
image, his that learning upon Chicago of Harris Darris
exclaimed
now!” right dance happy a doing am “I
Winners
Place First Other
www.teresacorsiephotography.ca to see more of Corsie’s work.
colors of the bruised and rotting fruit made a beautiful union.” Go to
of imperfect pottery (made by my daughters at art school) and the
was attempting to create a painterly photograph. The combination
Point Visual Arts Photography School in Vancouver. She remarks, “I
Corsie created “Imperfect Beauty” as a class assignment at Focal
which she describes as “an extra appendage.”
photographer once again.” She is rarely seen without her camera,
professional
a being of dream my pursue to begun have I survivor,
lucky a “As explained, She cancer. breast with diagnosed was Corsie
40, of age the At family. her raising while studies her continue to
unable was she 20s, early her in classes photography taking began
she
Although again. student a is Columbia, British Coquitlam,
Port from Corsie, Teresa older, are children three her that Now
Corsie
Teresa Category: Life Still in Place First
1989
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Camera Club moves to its current location at Dearborn Station,
a renovated railroad station, at 47 W. Polk Street in Chicago.
1995
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Camera Club celebrates its 100th anniversary since the founding
of the Chicago Society of Amateur Photographers. Renowned New York photographer
Jay Maisel is the keynote speaker for the event.
2000
Special lecture series is produced featuring prominent Chicago photographers Victor
Skrebneski, Tom Maday, Bart Harris and Robert E. Potter III.
2001
Members of Fort Dearborn-Chicago Camera Club elect to change the name of the
organization to Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum to emphasize its openness to the
exchange of ideas.
2004
to
Present
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum hosts guest speakers significant in the photography
industry, including Mike Zajakowski (Chicago Tribune), Susan Aurinko (gallerist),
Dirk Fletcher (director of digital photography Harrington College of Design), Jon Scott
(printer), and photographers including Marc Hauser, Paul Elledge, Bob Black, Art Shay,
Donald Smetzer, Jerry Hug, Steve Grubman, David Seide, Paul Natkin, Peter LeGrand,
Jim Hugunin, and Sandro Miller.
2010
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum produces an International Digital Photo Competition
with participants from 16 countries and 37 States. Winning photos are displayed
at Morpho Gallery in Chicago. Rangefinder Magazine writes a feature article about this
competition including the winning photos.
2012
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum reorganizes as a 501C3 educational organization.
2017
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum celebrates 131 Years since the founding of the
Chicago Slide Lantern Club.

EXHIBITORS
Emily Deam
Ted Donahue
Elizabeth Gossen
Robin Heiss
Karen I. Hirsch
Kara Hoyle
Lionel Jeffers
Mark Moulthrop
Fred Natkevi
George Philosophos
Charapin Pongtornpipat
Barbara Ro
Michael Schwartz
Bill Sewell
Terry Jo Tasche
Sharon Zingery

Geisha on Bridge

EMILY DEAM
I was raised in a family of graphic artists where fine art
was prevalent and photography was considered another
tool for artistic expression. My interest is in capturing
the beauty of places I’ve traveled and reproduce them in
both photography and drawings.
Portuguese Guitarist

A colorful man

TED DONAHUE
I am a retired accountant and an amateur photographer.
I was inspired in my youth by my friends in theater
and dance. I progressed from a volunteer stage hand,
to dance chronicler, into a low light theatre and dance
photographer. In my own work, I drew inspiration from
these dancers & choreographers. I realize now that photography
is as much about learning as it is creating.
Paper Rodin

Eye of the Flower

ELIZABETH GOSSEN
Elizabeth Gossen, amateur photographer. Her love of
details is expressed in her macro photography. Fond of
the outdoors, she tries to capture the hidden dynamic of
the world around us.
The End of Fall

Volcanic Image

ROBIN HEISS
I made these images while wandering through the extensive
lava beds in Volcanos National Park on the Big
Island in Hawaii. The unusual formations have an eerie,
almost other-worldly quality, that reflect the massive
forces that created them. Because the compositions lack
any familiar context, they invite interpretation by the
viewer.
Volcanic Image

Botanic Abstract

KAREN I. HIRSCH
Karen I. Hirsch is a Chicago-based commercial, editorial,
fine art photographer and digital artist. She has received
art grants from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
and the Illinois Arts Council. Her images have been
published internationally. Her prints are found in corporate
and private collections. This exhibition’s images are
part of her organic montage series.
Enchanted Forest

The Trestle

KARA HOYLE
Kara Hoyle is a Midwestern photographer whose love
for light has kept her capturing moments for the past
20 years. What started as a fascination with the magic
of traditional photography has grown into a deep-rooted
drive to create work for many years to come. She has
worked in various genres including landscape, portrait,
concert and commercial photography.
Last Day

Milk Bath

LIONEL JEFFERS
Lionel Jeffers is a former U.S. Air Force photographer
and instructor. A 20 year member of Fort Dearborn, he
has been engaged in model photography for the past ten
years.
In the Camera’s Eye

Flows

MARK MOULTHROP
The black and white photographic medium appeals to
me because of qualities of abstraction, enhancement
of intricacies to be discovered and contemplated, and
an otherworldly sense even in seemingly literal scenes.
In the more abstract images, there is a sense, to me, of
familiarity but less so recognizability.
Bigfoot Pass

Canyon lands

FRED NATKEVI
Born in Lithuania in 1933. Immigrated to America in
1949 and settled in Chicago. Graduated from the University
of Illinois. Received a Kodak Retina III camera as
a graduation gift and became captivated by photography.
On vacations, developed a passion for landscape and
infrared photography.
Pritzker Pavillion

Sky Tubes

GEORGE PHILOSOPHOS
I have been taking photos since a cub scout in the late
50’s and shooting most everything in stereo(3D)since
the mid-80’s. I love the process and the challenge of
capturing my life experiences and memorable imagery
to share with others.
Sky Blue Dome

Temple Wall

CHARAPIN PONGTORNPIPAT
Charapin Pongtornpipat grew up in Thailand and came
to the United States in 1984. A retired banking officer,
she took up photography in 2010. Her works range from
nature to landscape, architecture, and portraits. The
works portrayed here reflect her fascination with architectural
details in different cultures.
Palace Roof

Light Forest

BARBARA RO
I make landscape photographs, mostly in the Midwest.
They are often of flat places, where we see the bosom of
our Mother Earth. The horizon, distant or near, marks
where our eyes leave the land and see the air and space.
The trick is to find something to photograph in this view,
to make a picture of. There will be some color or feature
on which our eye can rest, as we contemplate the place
before us.
Sun Field

Milkweed

MICHAEL SCHWARTZ
Mike Schwartz is a longtime resident of Hyde Park.
His photographic interests include architecture, nature,
landscapes and flowers. In addition to being a member
of the Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum, he is
a member of the Washington Park Camera Club, the
Hyde Park Photo Study Group and the Photographic
Society of America.
Sitting Pretty

Vent #7

BILL SEWELL
In his other life, Bill Sewell is an emeritus professor of
political science and history at the University of Chicago.
He learned photography in his 50s and 60s at the
Hyde Park Art Center. Although he appreciates nature,
architecture, flowers, and landscapes as much as anyone,
his specialty as a photographer is finding “Beauty
in the Banal” – the striking forms and colors hiding in
plain sight in our urban environment.
Vent #5 Vent #1

Sunset Stroll

TERRY JO TASCHE
Terry Tasche is a professional photographer who holds the
Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees
from the Professional Photographers of America. She
shares her knowledge of photography by presenting programs
to a variety of organizations. Her images are found
in the PPA Loan Collection books and Mother and Child
Portraits published by Amherst Media.
Diversey Harbor

Golden Eye

SHARON ZINGERY
Sharon has ‘dabbled’ in photography since childhood
when her Dad developed her images for her. She became
a serious amateur for the love of travel images and
became a wedding photographer to support her habit.
Now she explores iphoneography for the love of spontaneity
and portability.
Poolside

Since its beginnings 131 years ago and throughout ever-changing art styles and technology,
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum has been an active participant in the
photography art scene. We continue to encourage on-going learning , the sharing of
work and the open exchange of ideas .
Our goal is to serve Chicago’s photography enthusiasts of all skills and from all
walks of life, as we honor the traditions of the past and look forward to exciting innovations
of the present and the future.”
www.chicagophotoforum.org