Bio / Artist’s Statement Hank Erdmann is a photographer, photographic educator and writer who resides in Will County, Illinois. He has photographed throughout North America, making the Midwest his primary geographic area of interest. A love of history, especially the maritime history of the Great Lakes, kindles a special interest in the ports, shorelines, islands, hardwood forests, prairies and other natural areas of Lakes Michigan and Superior and their surrounding environs. "My photographs are an expression of excitement and joy at seeing a fleeting moment when nature takes light and subject and creates an image that leaves a lasting impression in my mind. Occasionally, I'm fortunate to record such images. My images explore two main genres. I use line, shape, form, color, pattern, texture and movement in nature to create images that come from my soul through my eyes. I try to capture the feeling I have at the time of seeing something that make me want to photograph it. I often take a part of nature out of context with its surroundings to make a more powerful statement with impact and interest in the spirit of the great photographer Eliot Porter and what he coined as “Intimate Landscapes”. I also enjoy making images that explore seeing the natural image differently, making photographs of the natural world that go beyond the literal interpretation, in more artistic or abstract statements inspired by the photographer Freeman Patterson’s concepts of Photo Impressionism. I am constantly expanding on the “art of fixing a shadow” with over forty years of photographic exploration.” Hank currently serves on the Board of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) and as their Vice President. I have numerous, far too many to list in this short form document, publishing credits, exhibitions and exhibition honors and credits, educational seminars, presentations, and workshop and phototour credits. If you would like a detailed list of publishing credits, educator vitae or exhibitions list, please send a request to the email below.