April 2024 Employee Newsletter

Hobbies Pictures Worth 1,000 Words

Lance Craft works in our Eagle Rock location helping us with Inventory Control. Lance has worked with Maag Gala for 17 years, and I am sure his hobby will be news for many of us! This month Lance is sharing with us his lifelong hobby of photography. Lance began this hobby when he signed up for an art class in the 9 th grade. There he learned the basics of photography along with how to develop film. After initial classroom instruction, each student was given 1 roll of black and white film to shoot and develop on their own. Using a manual Pentax K1000 and with 24 shots and minimal camera setting knowledge, Lance was excited to give photography a try. As part of the final grade, he had to select his favorite image from that roll and submit it for critique. Lance selected a picture of his family pet, a cat named Snowflake, which he still has this picture today to remind him of his beginnings in photography. After that initial class, Lance continued to take art classes throughout high school and has completed additional photography courses over the years. Before digital photography was popular, Lance's first paid photography job was taking pictures of cattle for national auctions hosted by a major resort in a neighboring county. Who knew there was a market for livestock pictures? This experience ranks as one of the most unusual photography jobs Lance has ever done. Prior to working with Maag Gala, Lance collaborated with another photographer to launch a local business, specializing in individual and family portraits. Over time Lance's interests have expanded into different genres of photography. Lance's favorite include wildlife and motorsports. Even though both require a unique skill set, the accomplishment of watching for and successfully capturing vivid images are what motivate Lance. When it comes to style and inspiration, Lance has several professional photographers he follows. One of his favorites is Thomas D. Mangelsen, a wildlife photographer and conservationist who is famous for his wildlife photography in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Lance had the fortunate opportunity to visit one of Mangelsen's galleries and meet this photographer in person. Despite pursuing photography since high school, Lance continues to enjoy the continuous learning experience. Even with advances in technology, Lance continues to enjoy manual settings mode, as each scene offers its own unique opportunity to capture the essence within that moment and specific environment.

Thank you, Lance, for sharing this exciting and meaningful hobby!

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