The 19th

Of shows and work.

It's raining hard again this morning as the first cup of Pike Place Roast rests between the gnarly fingers of my left hand.  Gnarly fingers.....when did I get them?  Guess they go well with the turkey necks under my elbows. 

Yesterday, I went to the wildlife show in Charleston.  SEWE.  That's Southeast Wildlife Exhibition, pronounced ceee-weee.  Lots of wildlife in most of the venues from photography, painting, sculpture, and any other form of art that you can imagine.  I simply wanted to visit with some of my old friends from past shows like the Easton Waterfowl from which I retired last year.

This is an old photo of the show hall at Easton.  Charley Bear's booth is front and center and we had a long talk yesterday.  He is doing well and still schlepping all that stuff around.  He puts his photographs on tiles from which he makes wall hangings, coasters, and other types of kitchen appliances.  He still remember when I gave him that moniker of selling "Kitchen Wares"....we had some good laughs.  He has some new work that just is outstanding. 

Stopped and talked a long time with John Orehovec, and old time friend and wonderful nature photographer.  He is still as cantankerous as he always was which is why we both get along so well.  He is at the point I was a couple of years ago.  Time to move on even though he is one of the best pure wildlife photographers in the country.

Other friends I found were Jim Campion and his wife.  Dick Petrie was also showing.  Both of these have been friendly competitors over the years and both accomplished photographers in their own right.  None of the above folks do any digital work on their photos.  It shows when compared with the newcomers to the scene.  Digital art has become a huge part of photography and is here to stay.  Five years ago we all look askance at refining a photo with the computer but today is is an absolute necessity if you want to compete.

That having said, a new comer to the show in Charleston is Mathew Spaulding.  He has two black and white images that are all photography.  Both time exposures and both absolutely "Art".  This guy is going to make a mark for himself.  One image was of an old dock, simple, flat water, and very calming.  The other is one of the best image I have ever seen made of the Nubble Lighthouse in Maine.

All told, it was a great trip down memory lane and a peek into what the future of our art holds.