UC Davis professor Marc Schenker calls his photographic interest a hobby, but he admits the pleasure he derives from snapping his favorite subjects - intimate, diverse cultural images from foreign countries, especially third world nations - resonates throughout his life.
"The more energized I am photographically, the happier I am," said Schenker, the chair of the Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine Department and a life-long shutterbug.
Luckily, Schenker's work often unites him with his favorite material. The international occupational and environmental health expert has organized meetings and taught courses in India, Costa Rica, Chile, South Africa and Estonia, among other locales. He has taught and practiced at UC Davis and the medical center since 1983, when he arrived from a Harvard Medical School post.
In November 2000 Schenker traveled to three cities on the Ganges River in India, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi, and documented many sectors of Indian life along this sacred river: sari-clad women, Brahmin priests, beggars, children playing by the river and sacred cows and other animals. The Davis International House recently displayed about 40 of the photos in an exhibition, "The Ganges River and its People."
Schenker says he doesn't have a favorite photo among the collection.
"I remember all the people and all the settings," he said. "But people who come in the International House have different favorites, which I find very interesting."
Along with the International House, Schenker has also displayed his work at Davisville Travel and the late Café Evita in San Francisco.
In January, Schenker will travel to Cuernavaca, Mexico on sabbatical. He plans to conduct research on the health of agricultural workers in Mexico and work on a new edition of a respiratory disease textbook.
That trip could provide fodder for a new exhibition, or a recent trip to Morocco might as well, he said.
"I have many shows in my head that I would like to put together," Schenker said.
At home in Davis, Schenker and his wife enjoy jogging and checking out new restaurants. The couple has three children: Yael, a medical student at UCSF; Phoebe, a San Francisco architect; and Hilary, a student at Barnard College in New York.
Several photos from each of Schenker's exhibits can be seen at www-epm.ucdavis.edu/~Schenker/.
What was your first camera?
I think it was a Kodak folding camera using 127 film. It was a very simple camera with one shutter speed.
What do you use now?
I have a Nikon F100. I've had Nikons for many years since my first Photomic T, which I still own. The F100 is a serious camera. I take slides. I also have a digital camera, though I don't do my serious photography with that. I take a lot of work and family photos. You get instant feedback; you can show people what you've done. I didn't think I'd use it as much as I do, but it opens new uses and feedback in photography. I am also migrating to digital darkroom work, which is very exciting.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the variety and the serendipity - the unexpected things that could happen; the phone call that could lead to a new and fascinating study or consult. I also enjoy the challenge of improving public health and disease prevention programs at UC Davis.
What is its most challenging aspect?
Managing a large department (whose employees) all have different needs. That's very challenging.
Why have you stayed at UC Davis for close to 20 years?
My position has changed. I started out in the department of Internal Medicine. I was section chief and then division chief. Our program expanded, and I became department chair. We are starting a new Master's in Public Health program, which I am very excited about. UC Davis has been a great environment for professional growth.
What other interests do you have?
I enjoy world music, particularly from Latin America and Africa, and collecting "recycled art." Recycled art is made by poor and indigenous people out of found and recycled materials such as wire and soda cans. The music and art bring me back to my interest in photographing these same people and their culture. •