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Museums and photo galleries are slowly accepting
digital photography. Of course, it helps if the term giclée is
used to describe prints. The inkjet printer in its wonderful
array of quality. Higher camera resolutions. More sophisticated
use of Photoshop. These are all reasons for the surge in gallery
interest in digital.
I've lived in the same home and worked in the
same studio for 30 years. And a neighborhood institution was
Hill's Grove, a citrus packing house that served the acres of
fruit trees before they became subdivisions.
So it was with great interested that I first
visited the Packinghouse Gallery, "a resource center for
wildlife photography," in the old Hill Groves building.
Leslie Collins and partner Joe Bailey have set
up a warm and inviting gallery, teaching classroom, training
room and more, all aimed at getting greater public attention for
the work of wildlife photographers nationwide.
But what was particularly heart-warming to me
was the familiar "bong" of a Macintosh being booted somewhere in
the back.
I'll bet Leslie's grandfather never envisioned
the day when his packing house would be occupied by a Mac G4
800, Epson 1680 scanner, Coolpix 8000 slide scanner, and Epson's
Stylus Pro 5500 printer.
Packinghouse will not only be an active gallery
but will serve as a resource center for wildlife photographers
who want to learn more about digital imaging. Their plans
include seminars in basic Photoshop operation and more specific
Photoshop skills.
Later, as the reputation of the center and
demand grows, hands-on Photoshop courses may be added.
In addition, Joe and Leslie publish "f/8 and
Being There…", a bimonthly magazine that welcomes contributions
from wildlife and travel photographers. While a website is still
in the planning process, you can email Joe or Leslie at
f8news@aol.com.
Packinghouse Gallery is located at 10900
Oakhurst Rd., Largo, Florida 33774 (approximately one mile south
of SR 688). |