Award-winning local photographer has been shooting images for 40 years

Published in the July 22 – Aug. 4, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Robert Airoldi

Lance Trott holds one of his photographs while seated below another in his San Jose home. Trott is a member of the Morgan Hill Photography Club. For more information on the club, visit www.morganhillphotographyclub.org. Photo by Robert Airoldi

Lance Trott holds one of his photographs while seated below another in his San Jose home. Trott is a member of the Morgan Hill Photography Club. For more information on the club, visit www.morganhillphotographyclub.org.
Photo by Robert Airoldi

Lance Trott has been taking photographs for more than 40 years. As an active member of the Morgan Hill Photography Club, he has produced many awe-inspiring images from his travels throughout the United States, shooting scenery in Utah’s Zion National Park, the Colorado Plateau, Arizona’s Grand Canyon and Yosemite.

It was on a trip to Yosemite National Park to shoot the night sky with a friend that the 73-year-old retired research machinist for United Technologies produced an iconic image. Upon arrival, they discovered the skies darkened by smoke from a wildfire then raging through the valley. So the two took photographs of the fire.

“We just starting taking pictures,” he said with a characteristic humbleness.

Born in Port Jefferson on Long Island, he joined the Navy in 1959. When he was discharged, he planned on moving to Florida because he really enjoyed diving. But he came to California to visit his parents and stayed.

“I just really liked California,” he said, noting how much the state had to offer, though he tired quickly of diving in the frigid coastal waters here.
Trott has lived in south San Jose since 2007 after residing for 20 years in the Thousand Trails RV Resort locations in Morgan Hill and Hollister starting in 1987, alternating between the two every two weeks.

“You could say I lived in Morgan Hill for 10 years,” he said.

A few years ago there was a call throughout the photo club for volunteers to take photographs of the annual car show and parade put on by Independence Day Celebrations, the nonprofit that runs the Freedom Fest.

“I volunteered, which is odd because when I was in the (military) service I never volunteered for anything,” he said with a laugh. “You never wanted to volunteer.”

Even though he no longer resides here, Trott still enjoys the small town atmosphere in Morgan Hill.

“I spend more time in Morgan Hill now than here in San Jose,” he said.

In addition to his involvement helping other members learn camera skills in the photo club, Trott occasionally exhibits his photographs in city public buildings. He wants to get his images in the downtown Morgan Hill Art Gallery.

“I like the social aspect of the club,” he said. “Now, photography takes all of my time.”

Trott tried to start a photo business in the early 1980s, but it didn’t pan out. He continued to shoot, but really got back into the activity in the past decade with the advent of the digital format.

“I like the challenge and the technology of the new way of taking photos,” he said. “When digital came along I got into it quite intensely.” He also does much of his own matting and framing.

About five years ago he broadened his horizons taking pictures of people, instead of the usual scenery shots he was accustomed to taking. He also shoots time lapse videos.

Trott displays his work in numerous shows. The shot of the fire got in a show at Yosemite, then traveled through the state for a year at different galleries. He’s won numerous awards for his work.

“I’m doing something related to photography ever single day,” he said.