This week’s Member Moment features work by Mark Ludak, whose documentary photography is featured in our gallery show, Common Ground. This exhibit is on display from March to April 2026. Scroll down to see his pictures and to read the interview!

PL: What got you interested in photography?

ML: At first, I enjoyed alongside drawing and painting, but it quickly became my main focus. I was really drawn to cameras, optics, and how photography opened up a whole new way for me to see and experience the world.

PL: What type of camera do you shoot with?

ML: Because I teach both film and digital photography, I work with a range of cameras both film and digital-Hasselblad and Leica cameras, a favorite Contax G2 film camera, a Ricoh GR, a Mamiya C330, and much loved Nikkormat.

PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?

ML: I photograph what resonates with me, which isn’t always easy to describe. It can be a quality of light and shadow, color, or social content. For years, I’ve been drawn to industrial landscapes and the impact of humanity on the planet. Much of my professional work has been as a documentary photographer, photographing people. I’m always looking for images that offer insight into what it means to be human.

PL: Of the pictures you submitted, can you share an interesting story about one?

ML: Most pictures in the show have a story—but one that particularly speaks to me now is the black-and-white photograph of the child sitting on a cot in a refugee camp in Rwanda. It was taken during a trip to document surgeons working in Rwanda. The child had walked for days from Burundi with others seeking medical care and was in need of surgery. His look into the lens and his stoicism have stayed with me over the years.

PL: What do you enjoy most about digital/film photography and what is challenging about it?

ML: Each has its own challenges and rewards. I have a long abiding love for black-and-white film photography. I also love working digitally and editing/printing the work in ways I could only have imagined when I first started photography. That said, I am in the darkroom at least two days a week, and the rest of the week I edit and print digitally.

Every day, Club Members take exceptional pictures. If you are not a Film Club Member yet what are you waiting for? Join today to support the photo community in Philly and to start saving money on film processing!

Member Moment: Mark Ludak