http://www.setzler.net/2007/11/29/the-next-step-part-2/ Photographic Arts Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:56:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 http://www.setzler.net/2007/11/29/the-next-step-part-2/#comment-4846 John Setzler Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:19:03 +0000 http://www.setzler.net/2007/11/29/the-next-step-part-2/#comment-4846 Joe, be sure and let me know the details on this event... Joe, be sure and let me know the details on this event…

]]> http://www.setzler.net/2007/11/29/the-next-step-part-2/#comment-4840 Joe Young Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:01:42 +0000 http://www.setzler.net/2007/11/29/the-next-step-part-2/#comment-4840 What drove me to photography was my grandfather. When I was a child he would drive me up to the mountains to visit mountain people near a cabin he rented on Cat Tail Creek. I enjoyed sitting on the porch with them hearing their stories and learning about their simple ways of life. When I was in college I took a photography class and my first subject was my grandfather. He was an old farmer who stilled plowed the field with a horse and grew his own vegetables. I had him take me back to Cat Tail Creek but everything had disappeared. I found this to be a rude awakening. I went back to Boone and starting driving through the back roads looking for a way of life that was disappearing in front of my eyes. Eventually I did meet a lot of new friends and found what I was seeking. My grandfather passed away before I could take him with me to meet some of my new friends. What I was looking for evidence of own heritage. I wanted to hear tall tales and sit on front porches again. I wanted to look at their hands and faces and see the hard work and pride they had in their land. To make a long story short. I graduated college and got a job as a photojournalist. After 6 years I would eventually get burned out and loose my passion. I have since college revisited my friends once a year or so. A lot have passed away and some have held on. I always fear that I would one day knock on a door and find no one at home. My goal had always been to share my friends with the world and let the public hear their stories. I have applied for shows since I was a student and always been turned down. A year or so ago I applied to several local galleries and never heard a response. I am happy to say that I am finally having my first show in Taylorsville at the Spilled Bean early next year of my mountain friends. In conclusion, I have been a photographer for over 10 years now and I still get that spark of excitement at times and still love everything about photography. The flame has died down a lot but I have never forgotten why I started in the first place. What drove me to photography was my grandfather. When I was a child he would drive me up to the mountains to visit mountain people near a cabin he rented on Cat Tail Creek. I enjoyed sitting on the porch with them hearing their stories and learning about their simple ways of life. When I was in college I took a photography class and my first subject was my grandfather. He was an old farmer who stilled plowed the field with a horse and grew his own vegetables. I had him take me back to Cat Tail Creek but everything had disappeared. I found this to be a rude awakening. I went back to Boone and starting driving through the back roads looking for a way of life that was disappearing in front of my eyes. Eventually I did meet a lot of new friends and found what I was seeking. My grandfather passed away before I could take him with me to meet some of my new friends. What I was looking for evidence of own heritage. I wanted to hear tall tales and sit on front porches again. I wanted to look at their hands and faces and see the hard work and pride they had in their land.
To make a long story short. I graduated college and got a job as a photojournalist. After 6 years I would eventually get burned out and loose my passion. I have since college revisited my friends once a year or so. A lot have passed away and some have held on. I always fear that I would one day knock on a door and find no one at home.
My goal had always been to share my friends with the world and let the public hear their stories. I have applied for shows since I was a student and always been turned down. A year or so ago I applied to several local galleries and never heard a response.
I am happy to say that I am finally having my first show in Taylorsville at the Spilled Bean early next year of my mountain friends.
In conclusion, I have been a photographer for over 10 years now and I still get that spark of excitement at times and still love everything about photography. The flame has died down a lot but I have never forgotten why I started in the first place.

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