Glenn Hansen has loved photography since his first Cub Scout Brownie camera. After receiving a bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry with an environmental emphasis, he turned to his muse, photography, and went in a different direction. Hansen prepared for this new career by studying photography with alumni of the Institute of Design who taught at the College of DuPage. They encouraged him to attend the Institute of Design for further study and experience.
It was there that he began a long-time working relationship and friendship with David Plowden. Hansen worked as David Plowden’s assistant from 1979 to 1991while also working as a freelance photographer. Working as a darkroom assistant and print finisher, Hansen assisted in the image production for 7 books. During these many years Hansen and Plowden developed a working relationship that continues, they have shared photographic, darkroom, and digital knowledge. Today, Hansen leads the effort to archive Plowden’s 70 years of work.
The time at ID also lead to a lifelong friendship with David Rathbun who previously had been the darkroom printer for Eliot Porter. Glenn learned color and dye transfer from Rathbun at ID. Their conversations extended over the years to their last conversation at GVSU before Rathbun's passing that was about "How much saturation to create in print? What about saturating some colors? What do you think?". Hansen ponders that question often.
The ID experience and master’s degree opened many other paths for Hansen. After graduating in 1984, he continued business as freelance photographer specializing in location product, architecture, and editorial photography. But, the love of teaching had started early and in 1982 Hansen began his teaching career at Lake County Community College. After 9 years of part-time teaching, he started teaching photography full-time College of DuPage. Since 1991, Hansen and his colleagues have built a photography program at College of DuPage that rivals most schools in the country. It is not the typical community college photography program, but a program that prepares students for commercial or fine art careers with a deep program of courses that are usually only found at universities. Many students finishing the program start their own photographic careers or transfer to four-year school for higher degree.
Hansen, being a large format photographer, now applies that discipline and contemplative approach to digital cameras. His work ranges from urban subjects to the transition zone between suburban and rural environments and then to the high plains of the western United States.
It has been an exciting time to be involved in the evolution of photography, as the medium transforms from film-based analog photography to digital image-making. Hansen always has a documentary emphasis in his images. While the technology of image production has changed, the importance of the photograph's subject and photographer's vision hasn't changed. "Let me show you this." He continues the tradition by showing the viewer images that share the experience of being there. While the subject itself is important, it’s viewer’s response that is key to the success of the photograph.
February 2026