The News-Gazette.com: Getting Personal with: Photographer Larry Kanfer

Getting Personal with: Photographer Larry Kanfer

By Melissa Merli

Sunday, June 7, 2009 7:10 AM CDT

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Name, age, town of residence?

Larry Kanfer, 53, Champaign.

Explain in one sentence what it is you do.

Photographic artist.

What time do you typically get up? What do you do the first hour of the morning?

I get up at 6 a.m. and read the paper. Then I help get my kids ready for the day.

Photographer Larry Kanfer. By Wes Freeland

What did you have for lunch today? Where? With whom?

I enjoyed lunch with George Amaya at Biaggi's.

Best high school memory?

I was the head of the speaking committee for Indian Hill High School in Cincinnati, and I invited an up-and-coming lawyer to speak at the school. We had several conversations to schedule the event, and it was a great speech. He was very insightful and well-spoken. That lawyer was Jerry Springer. How times have changed!

Tell me about your favorite pair of shoes.

I have this pair of tennis shoes that are falling apart. They're very comfortable! Perfect for gardening.

What does a perfect Sunday afternoon for you include?

Biking to the Original Pancake House with the family, reading the paper and photographing the sunset.

Was there one book you read as a child that you still cherish? Own? Read?

"The Cat in the Hat Comes Back" by Dr. Seuss.

What are you reading now?

"The Forgotten Man" by Amity Shlaes.

If you could invite three people (all living) to your home for the weekend, who would it be?

Alvin Toffler, Stephen Hawking and Stevie Jay.

Where on Earth would you most like to visit?

Galapagos Islands, Easter Island and India.

Tell me about your favorite pet(s).

I had a dog named Sam. He would go with me to photograph the landscape. I took him to obedience school every week, and he would bring me the newspaper from the end of our driveway each morning. That was a real treat during 20-below winter months!

Have you discovered as you matured that you are becoming like one of your parents? Which one and how?

My father: I'm finding that as I get older, I truly understand the importance of surrounding myself with a network of good people.

What would you order for your last meal?

A spicy Indian meal.

What can you NOT live without?

A great community with great people.

Who do you have on your iPod?

James Taylor.

What's the happiest memory of your life?

Meeting my wife and all the family events that followed from that serendipitous moment!

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

My mother drilled into me that if you work hard and have faith and confidence in yourself, anything is possible.

What's the best piece of advice you've given others?

Be persistent in your goals and be honest with yourself. When you are, everything comes together.

What was your first job, and how much did you make an hour?

Working as a pinball mechanic at King's Island for $1.60 an hour.

What was a pivotal decision in your career, and how did you arrive at that decision?

I graduated with a degree in architecture in December 1978. I had to decide whether to get a so-called 'real job' or continue doing what I love as a photographer. I went ice fishing in Wisconsin for a week to think about it. I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the landscape, made my decision to pursue my art and haven't looked back.

Which trait do you most dislike in others?

Arrogance.

Which trait to you most dislike in yourself?

My singing voice.

How do you handle stress?

My mother always said avoidance is the worst way; I take stress head on.