Paula Chamlee is a prime example of artistic development that can emerge throughout one’s life. Born in Texas, far from the world of visual arts, today she travels the world with her husband and multiplies her activities in artistic photography, publishing, and teaching. It’s with a high standard for quality and thorough knowledge of photography that the view camera has become her medium for producing the images we discover below.

The oldest camera store in Chicago was founded at the end of the XIXth century and three generations of the same family stood behind its counter. Central Camera, in downtown Chicago, is a piece of history all by itself. Lesphotographes.com had the chance to meet with Don Flesch, the current owner and grandson of the founder. He takes us on a tour of what was photography way before pixels arrived.

On a chilly December afternoon, I scuttled into the Winnipeg Art Gallery and entered into the world of Arno Rafael Minkkinen. As I walked through the exhibit, the beauty of each image was nearly intoxicating. I wondered at this creative form of self-portraiture and his body’s playful, yet graceful, interaction with the landscape. Nearly a year later, I had the honor of connecting with Arno for this interview, where we discussed his beginnings, his motivation and his artistic process.

After three years, Sarah Christianson has recently received a MFA from the University of Minnesota in photography. Throughout this time, she focused on a rather personal project: documenting her family’s farm. We caught up with Sarah in the gallery space where she was exhibiting her final project and she walked us through the show.

Todd Deutsch is a professor of photography at Saint Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota, yet finds time for personal projects. His artistic eye allows the viewer to explore the personality of his family through games, dinners, and the universal chaos of everyday life. Simultaneously, the frankness and humor in his style, informed by a child’s world, immediately captivates the viewer’s attention. We’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Todd and Heidi, his wife, on the birth of their fourth son.

Hailing from Florida, but a long time resident of Minnesota, James Henkel is an expert at play. He has traveled extensively with a camera at his side, but is always drawn back into his studio. With an imaginative spirit and a passion for problem solving, Henkel transforms every day objects, occurrences and scenes into quirky and eye-catching images.