ROCK SPRINGS – Some of us know him as a former member of the Rock Springs City Council while other know him from the Sweetwater Events Complex or now as director of the Rock Springs URA/Main Street but now Chad Banks will also be known as artist.

The “At the Carnival” photograph by Chad Banks is featured for the month of August in the Sweetwater County Photo Contest Calendar. He has a second photo featured in the calendar as well, “Antelope” taken at Seedskade.

Banks was born and raised in Rock Springs, and although he grew up in Sweetwater County, the natural beauty of this area still inspires him. Banks’ love affair with photography started about ten years ago when he received a Cannon Rebel as a Christmas gift. Around 2004, the social media Selfie epidemic that plagues us today was unheard-of and digital cameras were still restricted to the realms of serious photography and ‘perfessionaldome’. Receiving such a cutting edge piece of technology inspired him to move beyond family photos and peruse more challenging subject matter.

As the price of digital technology slowly declined, more and more hobbyists around the country found themselves with a camera in their hands; including Banks. Since his first photo jaunt to Yellowstone, Banks has primarily focused his talents on wildlife photography; landing him recognition in the Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine, University of Wyoming Magazine and of course the Sweetwater County Calendar. Choosing photography as his hobby of choice came naturally to Banks. He says; “I’ve always enjoyed hiking and being in the outdoors, photography was a way that I could capture those beautiful moments and bring them home.”

Over the years Banks has taken a few classes at Western Wyoming Community College, which he enjoyed very much. But more than anything, Banks has enjoyed the comradery and knowledge sharing that exists between photographers in the local community.

The contemporary photographers that Banks enjoys most are Paul Ng, RJ Pieper and Jennie Knezovich, explaining that he is inspired by the passion they have for their work and, “the way they are able to capture and interpret a situation.”