The Foresters Camera Club was founded more than 40 years ago, and the Palos Park-based group has helped many professional and amateur photographers improve their skills and create stunning visual images.
At a new exhibit at the Vogt Visual Arts Center in Tinley Park, the public can experience some of its members’ best work firsthand, getting a taste of how powerful photography can be.
“The show will display a wide variety of interests and skills,” says Jim Shover, club president. “Some people travel all over the world, while others stick close to home. You’ll find architectural images, landscapes, photojournalism, black and white, macro photography, special effects — (the exhibit) covers a cross-section of everything a photographer can do.”
“To me the wonderful thing about photography is that you can see places and things you may never see otherwise,” said Julie Dekker, gallery director for the Vogt Visual Arts Center. “This is always a popular exhibit, and the quality is top-notch.”
The show, which runs the entire month of April, has traditionally been one of the highlights of the club’s year. But due to COVID restrictions, the last exhibition was held in 2019, making this return to in-person events important for the club.
“We’ve stayed active with Zoom, but the point of a club like ours is to meet and learn from each other,” Shover said. “Getting to see other people’s work displayed in a gallery like this is something we’re all looking forward to.”
The Forester Camera Club is organized around two events each month, one a competition among members and the second an instructional event.
“In a competition, we’ll pick four or five winners in a category,” Shover said. “It gives people a sense of what makes a good photography, or what makes one stand out over another.”
The club is one of about 30 different organizations in the greater Chicago area, and they often work together to judge each other’s competitions.
“Chicago has a very strong interest in photography,” Shover said. “No matter where you live, you’re probably no more than 20 to 30 minutes from a club.”
This exhibit at the Vogt Visual Arts Center will highlight about 50 award-winning photographs from the last several years of internal competitions.
“We tell beginners, this is more than taking a snapshot,” Shover said. “It has to have a subject, some interest, and draw you into the picture like any other artwork. That’s a hurdle for some people to overcome at first … But that’s also part of the challenge, to figure out what makes a photograph work.”
More Top Picks Best Reading Glasses For Computer And Phone
Those who would like to meet the photographers — and perhaps get some tips for their own work — are invited to an artist reception from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 9.
The Vogt Visual Arts Center was established in 1996 in the former home of Henry Vogt, the first mayor of Tinley Park. “It’s a wonderful space to visit any time,” Shover said. “We’re always very proud to see our work displayed there.”
While photography has perhaps never been more abundant, with cameras always at arm’s reach and images nearly constantly streamed to social media, Shover said he hopes that more people discover an interest in understanding the art form.
“There’s so much to learn,” Shover said. “It’s very welcoming to new people. In my first two years here, my skills easily doubled. Your brain shifts and you start to see things differently. It’s something that has meant a lot to me.”
Forester Camera Club Show
When: April 1-30
Where: Vogt Visual Arts Center, 17420 S. 67th Court, Tinley Park
Details: Free
Information: 708-614-6503; tinleyparkdistrict.org/vvac
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.