TAKE YOUR SHOT. Eau Claire Analog is a connector for area photographers and enthusiasts, and is compiling photos for its forthcoming zine. (Photo via Instagram)

Eau Claire Analog has ebbed and flowed with activity since popping up on the scene around 2017. Its focus on film photography – a medium that has seen a surge in popularity over the past few years despite increasing accessibility to digital cameras – has been a draw for photographers and film admirers alike.

A collective of area photographers and enthusiasts, Eau Claire Analog was originally organized by local photographers, including Brendon Hertz and Jon Edmonds, as something of a passion project. Over the years, Eau Claire Analog has hosted get togethers and published two photography zines.

Eau Claire Analog is more of a community-builder than a structured club – there are no regularly scheduled meetings, club dues, etc. “It’s really just people who are into photography and film, and want to hang out with and meet people who are also into that stuff,” said Casey Utke, an avid local photographer.

Utke is one of the people working on ramping up the group’s activity after a couple of years’ hiatus. Eau Claire Analog, which primarily communicates through its Instagram account, slowed down in 2020 with little activity until 2024, when Utke and Max Childs, a film developer at Sharp Photo in Eau Claire, took over the Instagram.

Eau Claire Analog reshares local photography on its Instagram page – folks can simply tag the account @ecanalog or include the hashtag #ecanalog for consideration – and hosted an in-person “print swap” at SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar this past October. Since then, Utke has been working on a new zine, which will be the third published by Eau Claire Analog when it’s published near the end of January.

“Film slows you down and forces you to get deeper into a moment and be intentional. You don’t have unlimited shots to take, like with a digital camera.”

CASEY UTKE

LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

The zine is still accepting submissions now through mid-January, and will feature all film photography. There is no specific theme, though all submissions should be related to the Eau Claire and Chippewa Valley area.

Several photos selected for publication in the forthcoming zine will also be featured at SHIFT on its gallery wall, showcased for the entirety of February.

While no future events or plans are concrete yet for Eau Claire Analog, Utke said he hopes it can connect likeminded people over a shared appreciation for photography and, particularly, film photography. While Utke's own journey with photography has evolved over the years – technically beginning in middle school thanks to a disposable camera he used at summer camp one year – he said film photography’s resurgence in popularity is somewhat similar to vinyl records: People still have an appreciation for physical media. 

“I think some people would agree with my own reasoning of why I fell in love with film photography, and it’s the fact that you don’t get instant gratification,” Utke said. “I think for others it’s just the vibe and look of film (that intrigues them). Then there are people who are doing really weird, bizarre things with film photography because it’s so open to experimentation in a way that digital is not.

“Film slows you down and forces you to get deeper into a moment and be intentional. You don’t have unlimited shots to take, like with a digital camera,” he said.

Submissions are still open for the zine, can be sent via email to eauclaireanalog@gmail.com through mid-January. Photographers whose photos are selected for the zine and/or SHIFT gallery will be notified via email.

Interested in Eau Claire Analog? Keep up with its Instagram (@ecanalog) for future events and updates.