Iowa Lakes photography instructor takes pictures for a cause

Bystanders would have seen paramedics, firefighters, police officers, SWAT teams and bomb squads gathering all in one place last month in Wausau, Wisconsin, with about 100 avid photographers following them — not to capture images of disaster, but to raise money for charity.

Pictures from the After Dark Education workshop are used to create a fundraiser calendar for the Everest Metro Police Department Blue Hearts, which assists families of fallen officers and service people.

Among the photographers attending the After Dark Education workshop was Dave Petrick, lead adjunct instructor of the photography program at Iowa Lakes Community College.

“This cause is special to me because our son is a paramedic and Navy vet, and he works closely with firefighters and law enforcement,” Petrick said. “Chad Petschke, an Iowa Lakes grad and husband to my wife’s niece, was a deputy with the Martin County Sheriff’s (Office in Minnesota).  He passed away suddenly last October, and seeing the support of all the law enforcement and fire and EMS gave the family demonstrated the brotherhood that exists among these public servants.”

The workshop began in the morning and continued until 3 a.m. or later, then restarted at 10 a.m., April 29-May 1.

Petrick learned lighting techniques, posing and business ideas from the event, as well as painting with light and new technology used in photography. He also had the opportunity to work with nationally-known mentors and share ideas with workshop attendees.

“It will make me a better photographer and teacher, as I am keeping up with current trends in the industry,” he said, adding that people will likely see some of the new techniques in his sports and dance imagery.

Dave Petrick, lead adjunct instructor of the photography program at Iowa Lakes Community College, used techniques from the After Dark Education workshop to create this image.

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