How to Go
What: “In My Back Yard” photography show by Hank Deneski
Where: Transfiguration Center for Spiritual Renewal, 3505 Calumet Road, Ludlow Falls
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26-27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 28
More Info: (937) 832-2677, photographybyhank@gmail.com
Hank Deneski of Union does not let a serious medical diagnosis keep him from doing what he loves. In July of 2005 he was told he had stage 4 head and neck cancer, and went into a series of chemo and radiation treatments. Then in November of 2006, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although he is cured of the latter disease with a recent PSA test of .02, he’ll never be permanently free of the oral cancer.
Undaunted, he gathered up his cameras in 2007 to pursue his passion of recording images. In the ’70s he had operated a wedding and family portrait business in the Columbus area before a job promotion caused a relocation to Union.
“Photography is a form of therapy for me. One of the biggest things that cancer patients have is fatigue. I was trying to be out and be active whenever I could,” said Deneski. “Our house is surrounded by farm fields, and I’ve always had an appreciation for the outdoors.”
This appreciation of nature will be evident at his “In My Back Yard” exhibit starting this Saturday at the Transfiguration Center in Ludlow Falls. One of his images, “Tropical Flowers,” was taken at Riverscape Pavilion in downtown
Dayton. In another setting, “Fall Fields” shows the tentacle-like frost alongside corn husks on the ground just south of Brookville. This image won the 2013 “Best of Show” at the Arts Association of Randolph County Photography Show in Indiana.
“These are things that people usually walk past, wild flowers and interesting views set up by nature,” said Deneski. “I would always take my camera with me, and I found it very comforting to be in nature and being productive, as opposed to just being out for exercise.”
Up until two years ago he was using only film cameras, so he was very selective about the images he captured. He is a self-described avid outdoorsman and a green thumb gardener. This is his first solo show. “In My Back Yard” indicates that most of the works were taken within a three-mile radius of his back yard. Although he doesn’t always have to travel far, as he has 25 varieties of flowers, shrubs, and trees on his property. In addition, his home is surrounded by three Metro Park sites: the Brukner Nature Center, Rivers Edge Nature Preserve, and the Aullwood Audubon Center.
“I was looking at things more specifically, and it took my mind off my health problems,” said Deneski. “I wasn’t focusing on recovery; I was focusing on enjoying life again.”
Deneski was also enjoying some recognition for his efforts. He has won other awards, such as 12 blue ribbons and 18 second and third-place ribbons and numerous honorable mentions at the Montgomery County Fair over the last 4 years.
“I will never be cancer free, but rather than grieve over it I’ve started an awareness and education program,” said Deneski. “It sets up free oral, head and neck cancer screenings, primarily for the under-insured or uninsured in Montgomery County.”
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