About

With a borrowed camera and a friends darkroom I made my first photographs at the age of seventeen. The early years brought quick recognition - winning local contests and having images published at a national level. 

After two years of college and four years of military service, I attended Brooks Institute of Photography. Winning the prestigious Boris Dobro Award only helped to solidify my calling.

In 1979 I opened Cholke Photography, a commercial studio in Rockford, IL. Traveling the U.S. on assignments for an impressive list of clients. Throughout a long career of commercial photography, I always made time for personal work, eventually establishing the Cholke dCapri Photography and Fine Art Gallery.

In recent years, fine art photography has become my passion - presenting and selling my work at juried fine art shows across the United States. 

Recent Awards

2016    Naperville Woman's Club Fine Art Fair – Best of Show

2015    Art in the Park, Freeport, IL – Honorable mention Best of Show

2015    Art on the Lawn, Rockford, IL – First Place – 2D

2015    4th Friday Starline Gallery, Harvard, IL – Best of Show – Art

2015    4th Friday Starline Gallery, Harvard, IL – Best of Show – Photography

2015    4th Friday Starline Gallery, Harvard, IL – People Choice

2015    Promenade of Arts, Arlington, Heights – Outstanding Achievement

2015    Buffalo Grove Arts Festival, Buffalo Grove – Best of Photography

2015    Geneva Fine Art Fair – Geneva, IL – Best of 2d

2014    Promenade of Arts, Arlington Heights, IL – Best of Photography

2014    Spring Green Art Fair , Spring Green, WI – 2nd Place Photography

2014    Buffalo Grove Arts Festival, Buffalo Grove, IL - Best of Photography

2014    Third Ward, Milwaukee, WI – Outstanding Achievment

2013    Downers Grove Art Festival, Downers Grove, IL – Best of Category

2013    The Promenade, Arlington Heights, IL – Best of Category

2012    Millenium Art Festival, Chicago,IL  – Award of Excellence    

2012    Buffalo Grove Art Festival, Buffalo Grove, IL – Award of Excellence

2012    North Shore Festival of Art, Skokie, IL –  Award of Excellence

2012    Downtown Downers Grove, Downers Grove, IL – Award of Excellence

2012    Winnebagoland Art Fair, Oshkosh, WI – Award of Excellence

2012    Art in the Barn, Barrington, IL – Best of Category – Photography

2011     West End Art Festival, LaGrange, IL – Award of Excellence