Chris Rok, besides having a rock star name, has a way with a lens and light. His photography demands a second, penetrating look. The two cover photos he's contributed to Front Porch (most recently June) are just the teaser for his full portfolio of work.

Many of Rok's images will be up for a long look at Bistro Bethem (309 William St.) throughout August, with an artist's Opening Reception, Monday, August 7 at 6 p.m. (free admission and tapas; cash bar; art for sale.)

Rok's images are made primarily from various traditional photographic formats. Some are digital capture, but most are either from 35mm, medium or large format film. Everything from Tech Pan to the highest of high speed.   Some of the images Rok previously accomplished in a traditional wet darkroom; however, the amount of control and convenience that can be provided by a digital darkroom makes a broader breadth of images possible if time constraints alone are considered, so that is the direction he has gone.

The field equipment Rok uses includes a new Nikon D70 that most of the wildlife images were taken with, as well as his trusty Nikon F100 and primarily just two lens; a Nikon 17-35 zoom or 80-400 VR lens. He also uses a Bronica 645 Rangefinder for the lightweight medium format adventure as well as a complete Hasselblad system, and has recently begun trying out a 4x5 field camera with some initial success.
 
Chris Rok became interested in photography in his youth but put the camera away for the better part of the last two decades, except to pick it up to take a snap shot of one or both of his two beautiful daughters. Rok's wife thought he should take a more serious stab at it again a few years ago. That's when he reconstructed his darkroom from scratch and essentially began anew.

Considering himself a traditionalist, it came as quite a self-surprise when he eventually, and just recently, accepted the digital environment. "& though I find myself yearning on occasion to pull out the old chemicals and make some new 4x5 contact prints, digital is here to stay. And, it is beautiful. I have my wife to thank for everything. Absolutely everything."

Answer to a FAQ: Chris calls his business 5th Corps Photography, named for the Union Army of the Potomac with its famous Maltese cross, organized May 18, 1862, while engaged in the Peninsular campaign.
 
Distinguished in battle, but not without losses, the 5th Corps fought at its third battle -- Second Bull Run -- where its Duryeé Zouaves regiment suffered the largest regimental loss in the entire Union Army.
 
The Corps continued to distinguish itself at Antietam, Fredericksburg's Marye's Heights, and Chancellorsville under the command of General Meade. At Gettysburg, the Corps distinguished itself fighting in the wheat-field, and seizing Little Round Top. 

The famed defense by the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment of Vincent's Brigade commanded by Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is the reason admirers proudly fly the pendant with the Maltese cross. Chamberlain's now famous orders to defend to "the last", and the heroic bayonet charge after his command had run out of ammunition with more than
a third of his men fallen, lives in memory as one of the most significant and courageous decisions ever made in battle.
 
The Corps and Chamberlain fought heroically at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, the bloody assaults at Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg until the last battle at Five Forks. The proud 5th Corps was discontinued, June 28, 1865, but her colors still fly.

Christopher Rok and 5th Corps Photography can be reached at P. O. Box 8065, Fredericksburg, VA  22404 (see the Ad in this issue).