Kankakee photographer shares 40 years of group portraits – Shaw Native

Bill ”BJ” Jurevich has spent four decades photographing Kankakee, weddings, events, portraits, and unguarded moments that tell the story of the community he’s documented since 1986.

Now the local photographer is sharing 24 of those images in “Life Through The Lens.” A Photographic Retrospective by Bill “BJ” Jurevich, on exhibit at Kankakee Community College’s Miner Memorial Library through Sept. 25.

Jurevich, owner of Image Group Photography and KCC’s contract photographer since 1986, said the work reflects his approach to both documentary and commercial photography.

“I want guests to realize what a privilege it has been for me to enter the lives of so many people in this community over the past 40 years,” he said. “I have attempted to honestly portray moments, albeit private slices of life, which informed, entertained, and possibly inspired the viewer.”

“The documentary images, uncontrolled moments in time, reflect my respect for the subjects. My commercial photography strives to be as technically perfect as possible while offering personal creativity pleasing to the subject.”

Jurevich also is an adjunct professor at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais and president of the board for the local nonprofit Wright in Kankakee.

Gallery talk Wednesday

A gallery talk with Jurevich is scheduled for noon Sept. 2 in the lower-level gallery area of Miner Memorial Library at KCC, 100 College Drive in Kankakee.

The public is invited.

The exhibit is open throughout library hours: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday by Friday.