I picked up my first camera and started taking photographs in 1978 on a family trip across country. Trying to capture something more than a simple scene quickly became the aim of every shot in every national park we visited. Though most shots never reached that lofty goal, it became the reason to take pictures.

Over the years, with a variety of cameras, I have attempted to place my camera in the right spots at the right times to capture the moment at hand. It's not easy, but it's rewarding when you hit the mark. In the end, taking a photo that captures what you're after is the icing on a delicious cake. To me, the greatest value in this endeavor is the process of learning to see, learning to anticipate, and putting myself in the way of beauty. I still love national parks, but I've learned you don't need to visit Yellowstone to get a great photo–you just need to open your eyes to what's around you where ever you are. It takes practice, and that's the joy of photography.

I currently have an exhibit entitled "Perspectives" at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine., It is an exploration of the world around me from the personal to the abstract. This presentation of photos is divided between three walls. The first is roughly focused on life–people and animals. The second widens the focus to landscapes and the sky. The third plays with abstractions that turn the viewer inward. There is a partial emphasis on the perceptions of memory and how what you remember differs from the reality of that moment. The show is up for the month of August 2017 with an artist's reception on Friday Aug. 11, 5-8 pm.

John T. Meader
August 2017

John is the owner/director of Northern Stars Planetarium, a portable planetarium business that has served Maine schools for 30 years. He is a Registered Maine Guide and loves canoeing, hiking, and the outdoors. He lives in Fairfield with his wife, Laura, and has three grown children.

jtmeader@myfairpoint.net