Apparently there is no such thing as a Grand Photographer, but the newest Grand Lodge Hiram award recipient, Terrence Schaffer, is absolutely a grand photographer...little 'g' and little 'p' (and don't call him Terry!)
Apparently there is no such thing as a Grand Photographer, but the newest Grand Lodge Hiram award recipient, Terrence Schaffer, is absolutely a grand photographer...little 'g' and little 'p' (and don't call him Terry!)
All right. Welcome to Minnesota Masonic Histories and Mysteries. I'm here with Terrence Schaffer, photographer extraordinaire. Terrence, how are you? I, I am happy to be here. I see you've got your Nikon, your work in the crowd already, as we call it, my umbilical cord. You're, um, it never goes anywhere without me, so Terrence, um, Tell me what was it that originally compelled you to become a Mason, and how long ago was that? Because you've jumped in with both feet From where I'm sitting. I did. I did. I, I became a mason just under 12 years ago. Okay. Uh, done a little bit since then. I, uh, my, uh, you know, I looked at Masonry back when I was 28 years old. My uncle, uh, who's passed now was a, was a big time Mason in Wisconsin, but Okay. Uh, he wanted me to become a mason out there and for circumstances, which I didn't understand at the time, They said no. And uh, of course as I became a mason, I understood why I needed to go through a lodge out here not driving, you know, four hours back and forth to go and take my degrees out there. Um, but that didn't happen when I was 28 and then when my mother passed away. Uh, when I just, after I turned 40, I, uh, I started looking at Mason Reed again. Uh, it was one of those things for me where I went, you know, all those things that you can hide from your mother when she's alive, when she's gone, you can't hide'em. And I decided, I really need to look at the independent man. Okay. And so I started looking at Free Mason Reed. Wonderful. And the things that appealed to me were that we accept all religions and races and creeds and, and we supposedly don't deal with politics. And I, I. Think that's the way the world should be. It wouldn't that be a refreshing change. So you are known for many things, but most notably the fact that you, uh, over the years have captured masonic moments with your camera. Mm-hmm. And I personally appreciate the fact that you do it because you've gotten some pictures of me that, um, one encouraged me to quit eating so much. Because, you know, the old saying, and the camera adds 10 pounds, the question is how many cameras did they take that picture with? Right, right. tell me about your connection to photography and how it was that you became so, uh, engaged in the craft. As far as well, photography, I've always taken pictures probably since my twenties really? But it was, it was, uh, um, it was really when I got involved in the craft and I saw you could take pictures. We had a brother in the lodge that was kind. The lodge photographer at the time and, uh, I had better equipment and uh, so I started taking pictures instead of him at events and uh, I really found that I enjoyed it. I enjoyed, the big thing for me is I want to share those pictures with everyone because I want every brother to look at an event, whether it be grandma's, whether it be a cornerstone ling, whether it be whatever, and go, wow, that looks like a good time. I wish I'd had gone and I'm hoping. Inspire them by the photographs to go, I'm gonna go next time. And, and, and, and I think I've done a little bit of that throughout the years. I'd say you've done a lot of, bit of that. In fact, you know, the old saying of picture's worth a thousand words. Absolutely. What I've always been impressed with was how you've been able to capture the joy of masonry and the friendships that are, made during masonry. You have uh, For capturing those moments where, people don't know that they're getting the pic that you're taking the picture and, those tend to be the best ones that are taken. But, I think from a marketing perspective, we can say everything that we want about the work that we do, but when you show it through photographs like that, it really does make just a huge difference. So it brings it home. It does bring it home. So how many different events did you attend this past year? Because my god, uh, it, it seems. Were everywhere. Well, I, I attend everything I can. Uh, my medical issues have prevented me from working the last six years, so I have a little more free time. But even before I had that free time, uh, I worked third shift and so I had the luxury of going to any funeral that they needed brothers at any, uh, daytime event. I was usually able to go and then I'd nap later. So, uh, my schedule was more flexible. My wife works 16 hours a day during the week, so I'm not neglecting her. No, wait a second. Yeah, she works 16 hours a day. 16 hours a. So, well, I give her, I give her only 12 on Mondays, but Jesus, so, so maybe that's, you know, the, that's why you're happily married is, is she doesn't have to see that much of Right. Something along those lines. She has the dogs to keep her cup. So, yeah. I know that you are a dog lover. Yes. And you used to have those, what are those big Irish Wolfs? Irish Wolfs. Two 50 pounds is our biggest. And uh, now you've even got some teeny ones. We went from the biggest Irish breed to the smallest with the glen of a malls. Wallace Irish breed and they give 35, 40 pounds. So your children, uh, wear collars? Yes. Very nice. The hairy kind? Yes. Throughout the course of this past year, I always considered you kind of the grand photographer. I know it's not an official term. But I think generally speaking, people would look at you, you know, when they think of who's the grand photographer. Absolutely. It's Terrence. tell me about some of the events that you've been to or photos that you've captured that you're particularly proud of. Like I said, I really enjoy, well went to a different, couple different Cornerstone Langs and Lodge dedications this last year, and I think those are things that. That often, and I think it's something that every brother should experience it, it's, it's these public events that you can take photographs of, whether it be an installation or something like that. It, it gives you the opportunity to share those photos with the non mason and for them to see a little bit about what we do in our traditions and, and the importance of, of the work that we do and the ritual that we. Uh, in a normal, more normal setting, I should say. So, uh, I really am proud of being able there to have even my friends or acquaintances look at those and go, wow, what's masonry all about? I saw these pictures of you at this event. It looked really cool. Yeah. What's that about? And it opens the door to have a conversation. Well, as a matter of fact, you have, uh, what are you tagged? Is that what you do? You've tagged me Oh yeah. On a number of photos and I'm, you know, I'm on Facebook. I got a bunch of friends on Facebook. And as a result of you tagging me on those photos, cuz I never take pictures of myself at Masonic events. I bet you I've had at least a half a dozen guys in my network that a couple of them have petitioned a lodge. Uh, a couple of them have expressed a genuine interest. And then there's a couple that are just curious. you've provided an opportunity for me to. Masonic life with my non-music life in a way that's, that's not me being all, Hey, look at me. You know, I happen to be tagged on this thing and for whatever reason it's just a much more comfortable approach for me. Sure. And I just wanted to thank you for doing that. Um, I, I thank you for all the work that you do. Minnesota Charities, all that hard work, they're such a huge part of the work that we do as mason's and, uh, we couldn't do it without people like yourself putting in your time and effort. what I'm most grateful for is the fact that, it is, a group of people that really seem to understand. the historical significance of what we've done, and then the people that, consider their own personal situations and wanna do for the brothers that come after us, what those brothers that came before us have provided us. So, I, uh, wish you well this weekend. I hope you keep taking pictures. Um, I don't know if there's ever gonna be an official grand photographer, but, uh, you get my vote. Oh, thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Give me a hat or a pin. Oh yeah.