Robert Wiseman, professor of library services, has been working with photography since he was in sixth grade.

“I had an uncle who taught me how to develop film, and that was that,” Wiseman said. “I’ve been messing with photography most of my life.”

Recently at the Central Illinois Camera Clubs Association, Wiseman entered three prints in the large print category. One print of a heron catching a fish received an honor and the other two were accepted.

Only 30 percent of the total entries were awarded acceptances. The print of the heron was one of eight to receive honors.

“I’m interested in competitive photography and competing with other people,” Wiseman said.

Wiseman also teaches photography through industrial technology.

He said this is not the first time his work has been given awards and that his photos have been featured in art shows and museums. He said entering digital photography in shows can be a challenge.

“In the shows, if you get judges who don’t like Photoshop, you get bombed,” Wiseman said.

When digital photography first came out in the late ’80s and ’90s, Wiseman said he enjoyed the challenge of learning something new.

He said even though digital photography is an expensive hobby it is actually cheaper than film photography, which required purchasing liquid chemicals that often went to waste after they were mixed.

“When digital came out, there was nothing else like it,” Wiseman said. “I never want to get my hands wet again.”

Wiseman said the chemicals they used to use were powerful and likely difficult to find today.

“If I went in and asked for them today, they’d probably have the local sheriff after me,” Wiseman said.

Wiseman said to learn digital photography he originally planned to take a sabbatical from teaching for a semester. However, before he could, he was invited to be a visiting professor in China, so instead he spent that time overseas.

He taught computers and English in Xien, the ancient capital of China. Wiseman said he did not get to take as many photos in China as he would have liked, but he still enjoyed his time there and got to see the terracotta army of Qin Shi Huang.

Wiseman said he is not very interested in taking photos of people, but instead focuses on events and scenes from nature.

He said he is planning on running a workshop June 22 at the Douglas Hart Nature Center where anyone interested can come and learn about photography. While the center may charge for admittance, he said he is not going to charge anyone for the actual workshop.

Wiseman said he is trying to get a photography club started on campus but so far has only had six to seven people interested.

He also said he has the makings of a simple book on photography that would focus on the basics of digital for beginning photographers, though he is unsure if he will seek publication.

“If I do, I do; if I don’t, I don’t; but I should,” Wiseman said. “I enjoy photography. I enjoy competing with others and making pictures that people enjoy looking at.”

Seth Schroeder can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].