Trinity Lutheran Group Shots

Trinity Lutheran Church c 1966I’m not sure both of these photos are mine. This photo’s lighting and overall tone looks more like it could have been taken by Master Photographer Paul Lueders.

I don’t recognize anyone in the photo. I’m going to guess they are members of a Trinity Lutheran School confirmation class. Click on the photos to make them large enough to see the faces.

Trinity graduates, maybe?

Trinity Lutheran Church c 1966This looks like a different group than the one above, and their caps and gowns might make it an eighth grade graduation. Trinity Lutheran School also had a kindergarten graduation, but it’s pretty safe to say these aren’t kindergarteners.

The technical quality of this photo makes me think I took it. Where the picture at top of the page is evenly lit and has a full range of tones, this one appears to have been shot with one strobe light held high and off to the left. It got rid of most of the shadows, but the light is a bit harsh. The highlights are a little blown out, too. That’s because I tended to overexpose and overdevelop “to be safe,” leading to contrasty photos. That’s not a good thing when you’re shooting people in white robes.

So, Mr. Lueders, if that WAS your shot at the top, please forgive me for stealing your picture. I imagine you are too busy taking pictures of angels lounging around on cloud tops to have noticed, though.

Dodged a bullet

While I was still in high school, I was contacted by a company that wanted to hire me to shoot photos for a church book at Trinity. I don’t remember the details, but it was going to involve me convincing families to show up at the church to be photographed. The results would be assembled into a book the company would take advance orders for. I’d get a cut of the action, plus be able to sell prints to the families.

I turned the idea down. I figured if they offered ME the job, they were shady to begin with. It sniffed of something where they used a local to rope in the marks and collect the money for a product that would never be delivered. I didn’t have confidence that I had the technical skills to pull of the job, and I sure didn’t want to get run out of town on a rail by a bunch of German Lutherans with pitchforks if this turned out to be a scam.

6 Replies to “Trinity Lutheran Group Shots”

  1. Hello Ken,

    I want to compliment you on the excellent job you do publishing this information almost every day. We don’t always see eye to eye on the content, but I know it takes a lot of effort to do it. Thanks again.

    Tim Luckett

    1. Thanks, Tim. The only times I’ve missed posting have been when technical issue have kept me from it.

      Daily postings are both a benefit and a curse: I’m afraid that if I found out that the world didn’t end if I skipped a day, then I might be more inclined to do it more often.

  2. Ken,

    Dittos to what my brother said. We probably have more in common than we realize. I only lived in Cape for a couple of years but loved Cape. I enjoy the pictures and comments from everone. Keep up the good work.

    Jim Luckett

  3. Most of us of age will immediately recognize Pastor Oscar A. Gerken on the left, but fewer may remember Pastor Jerry Ehrlich (at right). If I remember correctly, he married Debbie Siemers, daughter of Harry Siemers.

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