Melissa Stukenholz
www.gormanhousephoto.com

Me? Like most photographers I have loved photography since I was a child.  I think it was my mother that gave me the passion for the art...growing up I remember she ALWAYS had a camera with her. I graduated from ISU and have taken photography courses from many institutions and instructors and am always looking to learn and grow more.

From the “big picture” to every minute detail…I love the shadows as
much as the light…the black, the white, every shade of grey in between,
brilliant hues, screaming color. Soft, shy, or strong…confidence,
elation, or love…something, anything, everything….sunlight, moonlight,
nothing but a flashlight. A good photograph doesn't make you see
something...it makes you feel something.

Mark Stoltenberg
www.markstoltenbergphoto.com

I am a fine art nature and landscape photographer. I have been shooting with a Pentax camera system for over 30 years. I currently shoot digitally in raw and use Lightroom to minimally edit my images. I still approach photography as though I am shooting with film. I work very hard to capture each completed image in my camera. I print, mat and frame my own work using conservation materials.

John Gibney
www.jagsnaps.com

I have been taking photographs almost all my life. I am fascinated by the processes of photography, both creative and technical. It is to me an ideal blend of art and science, that provides a workout for both sides of the brain.

I enjoy all genres of the art; product photography, landscapes, still life, nature, pets, portraits, and pinups. I have worked on a number of weddings, and done senior photos. While most of my work is digital, I enjoy shooting and developing film too, in small, medium, and large formats. I am always interested in exploring new methods and techniques, and expanding my horizons.

Kathy Strohl

I look for the simple beauty in the 'ordinary' - leaves caught in ice, flaming sunsets, anything around me - and photograph it.  I love to find the details that people hurry by without seeing.  Most of my pictures are taken locally and include the High Trestle Trail and Bridge as well as other points of local interest. 

I also paint in watercolor and acrylic, sometimes manipulating these paintings on the computer to create abstract images. 

Jamie Daubendiek
www.daubendiekphotography.com

My name is Jamie Daubendiek and I was first intrigued by photography from my grandpa who always had his film camera out taking pictures throughout my childhood. From my initial curiosity, I took a class in photography during high school where I learned all of the basics. When I attended Luther College I took another photography class and also had my first digital camera which helped me take a lot of memorable photographs. During that same time I completed the New York Institute of Photography. After college I moved out to Colorado and had a wonderful experience taking pictures of the gorgeous scenery through all of the seasons. I have recently moved back to Iowa and I enjoy taking landscape photographs wherever I travel. I find it fascinating that each photograph that is taken is one moment in time that can never be exactly reproduced again.

Cindy Skeie
www.skeiescapes.com

I've been told that I have a unique perspective on nature. From the brilliant colors of flowers, to comical bugs or even the complex world of fungus, macro photography allows me to discover the intricate beauty that exists everywhere in nature.

My love affair with macro photography started when I took up gardening. While tending to my flowers, I noticed that the closer I got the more fascinating they became. My macro lens opened up a whole new world I wasn't able to capture with my own eyes.

I have traveled to Central America many times, discovering the spectacular macro world that exists in the jungles, rivers and oceans. But I'm still surprised at what I continue to find in my own backyard. I'm amazed every time I discover the beauty of nature in unexpected places. However, what is most rewarding is when someone thanks me for showing them how to look at nature from a different viewpoint.

Hopefully, this adventure that I'm on will open your eyes a bit more and help you develop a deeper appreciation of just how extraordinary nature is - especially when you take a closer look.

Eli Hamann
www.krop.com/hamanncreative

My work is derived from my travels throughout the world and close to home. My photos almost always involve people in alternative locations and events.  My work usually involves a lot of form, bold colors, symmetry, and a heavy dose of mystery.