John Huss is known around school for his family’s donations to building the Huss Center for the Performing Arts, but many wouldn’t connect the name of the retired banker to the photographer until they venture into the Harry M. Drake Gallery exhibit “People, Places and Critters”, which opened Oct. 19.

Huss graduated from Lake Forest Academy, went to law school, got a masters in law from Indiana University and then became a very successful banker. But all this time, he kept a camera close to his side, keeping the love for photography he discovered at Camp Minocqua as a hobby. Travelling the world with his wife over the years has presented many great photo opportunities for Huss. Whether it’s the unique faces of people in Burma, or a beautiful tiger in India, Huss captured all his memories in a couple snapshots.

Q: When did you get into photography?

A: Don’t ask. Probably about 65 years ago, when I was in summer camp in Northern Wisconsin. That is when I first started developing picture and taking pictures. So that was back in about 1950… And ever since then I’ve had photography as a hobby.

Q: What inspired you to take the photos that are in your exhibit?

A: Ruth and I have been very lucky in that we’ve been able to travel a great deal. And sometimes, while we’ve had our health, we’ve travelled to some exotic places. And you like to bring memories back from some of the places, the people, and animals.

There was a time when neither Ruth nor I could travel because our parents were getting up in years. And then once they died… we were able to travel freely. We suddenly realized at the end of a year and a half that we had traveled to every single continent. Not trying to, it just happened.

Q: The name of your exhibit is “People, Places and Critters,” What inspired that name?

A: The partial alliteration of people and places. And then I thought “well, animals doesn’t sound very good”. And I like the term critters.

Q: What do you think it’s going to be like seeing your photos in the Harry M. Drake gallery?

A: I think it’ll be a culmination of some wonderful memories.

Q: What reaction do you hope people will have when they see this exhibit?

A: It’s a wonderful world out there.

Q: I know you got into photography when you were younger, like many of us. What advice do you have for photography loving students?

A: Get out and try it. And, I think one of the things that is really nice is the change in the technology. When I started, when we went away on a trip, I figure, if we were gone for two weeks, 14 days, I would figure a minimum of 3 rolls of film a day… The film is expensive too… Now, yes you have the expense of the cameras and the cards and so on, but basically, pixels are free.

Huss’s exhibit, “People, Places and Critters”, opened in the Harry M. Drake Gallery Oct. 19 with photos on display until Nov. 24.