Team Kentucky Gallery – Spring 2023

"When photographing, I strive to create unique shapes with my subjects that will draw the viewers focus inward. The most interesting part about working with animals is that they can't know the purpose of my photography, they are simply themselves in every image. These gorgeous Yearlings gathered around me with curiosity on this sunny day at a farm in Paris, Kentucky. Let this photograph be a reminder that we all have one life to live, and that starts with getting curious, and showing up in community as your unapologetic, wild, and beautiful self."

"A silhouette shot of a Berea College student photographer in one of the many caves at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, Kentucky. The open light source entering one of the caves created a chromatic luminance, perfectly shaping the silhouette of the student exploring the cave. This shot was captured from observing the caves and noticing the perfect composition created by the subject and warm background."

Eduardo Alvarez-Esparza is a senior at Berea College majoring in Business Administration. He works as an Associate Photographer for the Marketing & Communications Department, where he has gained experience in event photography, studio portraits, and post-production editing. He also pursues portrait photography on his own, focusing on creative and graduation portraits. You can follow his work on Instagram @eaduardos!

"I have lived in the Western Kentucky city of Owensboro all my life, and we are blessed with many subjects to photograph. I enjoy the outdoors and the many opportunities we have here in our beautiful state and in other nearby areas. There are some beautiful sunrises and sunsets to see while on the water fishing or in the field hunting, I’m always looking for those opportunities. My enthusiasm for photography grew from saving those memories in the field and at family events and documenting projects in my professional career to where I am now. Photography was a big motivator when I went through successful treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2014-2015.

"I eventually became a member of the Owensboro Photography Club and met others that enjoyed photography to a higher level. I’ve learned from them and try to share what I have learned with others that are newer to photography. I enjoy the many friends in our own club as well as some from other clubs that are nearby.

"This photograph was taken late one afternoon from my home near Sorgho, Kentucky, when I went out to see what the sunset was looking like. I focused on the ice covered buds of the dogwood and was pleased with the detail of the ice covered buds but also with the glow of the other buds that were being backlit by the low sun just before it set for the day. The only editing is some minor cropping to fit a frame.

"As a photographer, I enjoy the challenge of capturing the best photograph I can with little to no editing. I photograph anything challenging, including nature, agricultural work in the field, barns, air shows, boat races, and, most importantly, my grandchildren growing up and their sporting events. I love to visit the mountains for their beauty, areas such as the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Sloughs Wildlife Management Area near Henderson, Kentucky, and Rough River and Nolin Lakes to name a few. The possibilities and challenges are endless.

"I’m happy to have been given this opportunity to share one of those photographs with others in the Team Kentucky Gallery and challenge others to get outdoors and enjoy what has been given to us."

Larry Ball is a Boyd County native, retired from Cabell Huntington Hospital, as well as the Navy Reserve, and a member of the Tri State Camera Club. He also coaches NASP archery at Ponderosa Elementary. He is an avid self-taught amateur photographer who has been actively shooting in 35 mm format since 1970 and transitioned from film to digital, now shooting on a Canon 80D with the primary lens a Canon L 24-105. His primary interests are wildflowers, waterfalls and landscapes, however with grandchildren active in sports, that has become a secondary activity, sharing pictures of the games with other parents. Traveling to various locations to capture the beauty of natural features is something which provides many of the photographs taken. Favorite travel location outside of Kentucky has been Alaska, where the opportunity to capture amazing shots is everywhere. Most recently was able to travel to Ireland in August with his granddaughter, who has been a travel companion more than once.

"This photograph was taken on a snowy morning on a drive in Lawrence County, Kentucky, to shoot scenes, four years ago, and has been one of my favorites. It is a little Methodist church located in Zelda just off US 23. My older sister and I have memories of this church while growing up. My family lived about a half mile from this church until age 6, around 1954, when we moved to Boyd County. We would walk to it in good weather. Later as a teenager I attended this and two other small churches which were served by a circuit rider pastor."

"'Joy' is what I discovered when I began my journey as a photographer about 2008. It is what I feel when I pick up my camera and then again later when I put together my vision at my computer! Many of us spend much of our lives searching for who we are. I found “Me” when I found photography! It is therapy to me. When I hold a camera, I can block out everything else going on around me so that there is just me, my camera, and God. Although I do not limit myself to any genre such as portraiture, etc., I do primarily focus on nature and wildlife. And I love the creative side of photography and digital art. Many of my images begin as a photograph, but then I use creative processes or digital paint to explore how I can take that image beyond an ordinary photograph.

"In 2019, I was honored to get an article with photos in Digital Photography Magazine, an international publication. This year, I was honored to be awarded 2022 Kentucky Photographer of the Year in print competition by Photo Pro Network (Kentucky Professional Photography Association).

"Hummingbird Haven is a photo composite of images captured in my back yard with the application of digital paint for the background."

"I live in Gilbertsville, Kentucky – a place many think is more state of mind than a place on a map. Gilbertsville is located in Marshall County, across Kentucky Lake from a mystical place called Land Between the Lakes; where buffalo and elk live peacefully near old family cemeteries, and roads slowly turn into lanes, then paths before you notice.

"This is where St. Stephen’s Church sits. Originally built in 1900, some say it was abandoned in the 1940s. Then with the dawn of the 21st century, descendants of those buried in the old church cemetery put in countless man-hours to restore St. Stephen’s."

Interested? Here’s how you get there:
Find your way to Grand Rivers, KY 42045
Head west on Ohio Ave toward J H O’Bryan Ave
Turn left on J H O’Bryan Ave
Turn left onto KY-453 S/Dover Rd
In 8.1 miles turn left on Forest Service Rd 117/Old Ferry Rd
In 4.3 miles turn right into Forest Service Rd 122
In .5 miles turn left onto Forest Service Rd 115
Drive 1 mile to St. Stephen’s Church.

"My passion for photography ignited a few years ago after losing my job. As a person of faith, I distinctly recall the Lord instructing me to purchase a camera. My initial reaction was to point out the obvious that I was unemployed and to ask God if He was aware of how much cameras cost. Yet, I listened to that small voice, bought a camera, and joined several photography groups.

"I found my niche in landscape photography. I use the lens of my camera to connect with nature, whether it is taking a picture of a delicate flower, snow-capped mountains, or an exotic bird. My love for God’s creation began as a child when my mother unwittingly planted a seed within me. Not fully comprehending, I sat in the back seat watching her praise God as we drove along the Kentucky interstate. She marveled at the lush, rolling hills and the white, luminous clouds. The seed she planted took root and manifests through my photography.

"My mother died eight months after my first photography class. As I look through my viewfinder to compose a shot, I’m grateful beauty exists even in the midst of pain.

"Armed with my camera, each time I go out to shoot, I ask God not to let me miss Him in the moment. My prayer serves as a reminder I should not be so preoccupied with capturing the best shot that I fail to embrace His tranquility.

"A friend called me late at night asking if I would photograph her neighbor’s Night Blooming Cereus, a cactus plant that generally takes a few years to produce any budding flowers. Once it matures, the flower only blooms for one night and dies before the sun rises.

"My friend and I stayed in her neighbor’s yard until 4:30 a.m. watching the cactus’s flower evolve. The plant had been placed on the ground, so the black background is the darkness of night. The lighting was achieved by my friend holding two flashlights next to the flower.

"This cactus is nicknamed Christ in a Cradle because it is said to symbolize the birth of Jesus, the Wise Men worshipping the baby in the manger, and the Star of Bethlehem. I titled this photo A Peaceful Night.

"The first time it was exhibited, the owner of the cactus noticed a pink illuminated heart in the photo that I had not seen. Her late daughter’s favorite color was pink. On the evening I took the picture, my friend’s neighbor had hosted an event earlier that day commemorating her daughter’s life.

"Whenever individuals view my photos, I hope they experience a sense of serenity and are remined to simply pause…"

Carsen Bryant is a Central Kentucky photographer who specializes in higher education, athletics, and portrait photography. With a Bachelor of Fine Art from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), she is now the sole University Photographer at EKU. Bryant provides freelance photography and often shows her work in Lexington’s Loudoun House gallery.

Photographed here is one of the Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program instructors examining a student burn cell.

View more of her work at carsenbryant.myportfolio.com

"I am a nature photographer. I absolutely love nature and believe it’s the mother of all healers. It has healed me in so many ways and that’s why I choose nature photography. Nothing is better to me than observing animals in the wild and taking photos; just becoming one with nature. I’m also very passionate about birds and capturing their beauty because so many are gone now and one day they may be gone."

"One crisp Autumn morning I was in Loretto, Kentucky. The scene was perfectly Kentucky: from the pastures and barns to the full rickhouses. A single beam of light through the doorway illuminated a half-full bourbon tasting bottle between the bung hammer and the copper dipper. The barrel wood, metals, label and glass reflections, including bright primary colors, inspired me to capture this classic Kentucky image.

"For decades artist, doctor, and community volunteer have been my identity. I am proud to be a fourth generation Kentuckian who raised my family here. Before pursuing a career in medicine, I studied the History of Art at Emory University and Photography and Studio Art at Atlanta College of Art. The arts continue to infuse my life with joy whether by participating in Community Art events like Lexington’s HorseMania, assembling mixed media works including with origami, taking photographs, or teaching art to both children and adults. My collaborations with physician researchers at UK’s Sanders Brown contribute to showing how art can benefit memory and mood in Seniors."

"This photo was taken at Kentucky Downs racecourse in Franklin, Kentucky, a racecourse and town that both hold very special places in my heart. I got my start in the Thoroughbred industry at Kentucky Downs and nine years later, the unique, all-turf track is one of my favorite places to be. The uniqueness of the course, combined with the pastoral surroundings and talented racehorses, makes for a special two weeks in late summer each year.

"Due to rain delays, the final day of racing at the 2022 Kentucky Downs meet ran later into the evening than originally scheduled, and we were lucky to experience an incredible sunset as the meet closed for the season. This photo was taken as one of the final horses headed to post for the final race of the meet, one of the most bittersweet moments of my year.

"I consistently feel grateful to work in marketing and tourism that promotes Kentucky's signature equine industry, but experiencing and capturing moments like this reminds me of how lucky I am to do what I love for a living.

"If you'd like to see more of my work, please visit my Facebook, Etsy or website."

Marlea Ann Cornett was born and raised in the beautiful Appalachian foothills of Southeastern Kentucky and has been a lifelong resident of Knott County. Photography has been her passion and hobby since childhood. For her it is similar to how the people of Appalachia view their culture: “As a way of life and thinking.” Photography helps bring her fully into the present. That is what it’s all about for Marlea. It’s about capturing the moment in front of you and figuring out the best way to do so. It’s about slowing down, admiring the little things, and seeing all the details that many of us walk by every day in our busy life. Sometimes, people forget to take in those little moments and fail to recognize all the beauty surrounding them in Appalachia. She tries to capture those miniscule gems that can be easily overlooked. She enjoys all types of Photography: with nature macro landscape being her favorite. She treats her camera like a magic wand by exposing the detail and the beauty of Appalachia and its people.

In her photograph The Dew of the Wild Day Lily, she has captured the spectacular details of the morning mountain dew on the fiery orange petals of a newly bloomed wild day lily. Though this single lily is only open for one day, its beauty is now captured for a lifetime. Enhancing the natural beauty of the Commonwealth, the prevalence of the vibrant orange wild day lilies can be seen in the summer all along the creeks, streams, and roadways of Kentucky.

To see more of her photos, you may visit: facebook.com/chiccreekmedia

Kelly Davenport is an award-winning photographer and a digital and mixed media artist residing in Louisville, Kentucky. She enjoys outdoor, nature and night photography; and she’s always looking for ways to capture the beauty of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

As Kelly spends time in nature, she’s looking for awe and wonder in quiet ordinary places that people often overlook. This image of a mom and her baby owlet camouflaged high in a tree is a perfect example of a beautiful moment that could easily be missed.

Kelly took this photo at Joe Creason Park in Louisville. The image was awarded the John Hydro Photography Memorial Award at the 2022 Kentucky State Fair.

"I hope my photography inspires people to explore Kentucky to add awe and wonder in their life,” said Kelly. “I want people to reflect on what they can do to help protect our environment for generations to come."

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Louisville and works for UPS. She’s a Kentucky Foundation for Women Artist Enrichment grantee and is a member of the Louisville Photographic Society.

Trace Deaton of Traceartography is an award winning photographer as well as a digital artist, animator and musician.

A native Kentuckian who had toured and traveled with various musical performers before eventually settling in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Trace works in different mediums and genres within those mediums.

Producing modeling images for publications one day and photographing beautiful landscapes the next.

Another of the skills he has developed is video production and video animation, producing music videos for various musical artist.

This photograph of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner was taken at Old Friends Farm in Georgetown.

"I took this photo, Sleeping Swan, while visiting the Florida everglades. His head tucked in his body plus the softness of his feathers drew me in. Luckily, as I readied my camera for the shot, he remained sleeping.

"A lifelong Kentuckian, I’ve loved art since childhood. Looking thru a macro lens I’m awakened to a world otherwise missed. The excitement of seeing the up-close beauty of a dragonfly wing, the tiniest spider or the animated face of a praying mantis never gets old. It is a world I love to share.

"I’m thankful for the encouragement I have received along the way from family, an art-loving second grade teacher named Mrs. Vierling and my high school art teacher and dear friend, Margaret Merida. Using photography, collage or painting I hope I encourage others to explore the natural beauty around us."

Susie DeZarn is an artist residing in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, Joe, and two spoiled cats. Her work can be found at susie-dezarn.pixels.com.

Tom Eblen is a journalist, writer and photographer in Lexington, where he is the literary arts liaison at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning. He is a retired columnist and managing editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader and previously worked for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Associated Press. He won the Media Award in the Kentucky Governor’s Awards in the Arts in 2013 and was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 2016. His photographs have appeared in newspapers across the country as well as in magazines, including Newsweek and Garden & Gun.

"My job as a news photojournalist is to travel throughout the state of Kentucky and capture people in their element. Not staged. No setups. Just being in the present, witnessing a slice of life and sharing it with the world.

"This particular photograph shows a man crossing over the Tug Fork River on an abandoned railroad bridge. He’s walking from the town of Kermit, West Virginia, to the town of Warfield, Kentucky, in Martin County. He’s dressed up, looking his best for a job interview. What I’ve learned about the people of Kentucky is that they are resilient. Despite the number of commonwealth people growing up in abject poverty, walking down pathways that have long abandoned them, and having to recently brave the tornadoes, flooding and freezing temperatures, they will do anything they can to survive and fulfill their dreams. This isn’t just a Kentucky trait but a classic American one as well.

"After this photo was taken, I never saw that man again, but I think about him often. I hope he received that job. I hope he’s doing well. And I hope the people of Kentucky are hanging in there and finding their own path in life.

"To see more of my work, please visit: instagram.com/rudolphfinamore."

"I am a lifetime Northern Kentucky resident and a Kentucky Colonel. My lifelong passion for the outdoors and photography for the last 20-plus years has led me to many beautiful and remote places in and around the Bluegrass State. I am the founder of the Kentucky Waterfalls, Arches and Landscapes Group on Facebook and I am the administrator of the Kentucky Arches, Kentucky Waterfalls and Kentucky Landforms Databases. My work can be found in both private and public collections and has been featured in both local and national media outlets.

"Cumberland Falls is the crown jewel of Kentucky’s waterfalls. It is the definition of scenic. Whether it is raging from recent rains or delicate from weeks of drought, there is no question of its impressive beauty and, at times, power. For years now, I have been wanting to catch the falls during a drought, and in Fall of 2022, I finally got my opportunity. A late afternoon Autumn trek on Trail #9 in Cumberland Falls State Park led to one of the most beautiful trailside overlooks in the eastern United States."

"A candid shot of a student couple perched atop the Berea College’s pinnacle. I captured the beauty of the early morning at the pinnacles on October 19, 2022, which was the college’s annual Mountain Day celebration. I arrived before dawn to set up my equipment and wait for the perfect moment when the sun rises over the horizon, illuminating the landscape with a soft, golden morning light. I paid attention to the composition, framing my shot to emphasize the majesty of the pinnacle and the surrounding scenery. With patience and skill, I captured the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the early morning, preserving it forever in this photograph. The photo is a reminder of the beauty of young love and the power of partnership. The way the light falls on their faces, the wind blowing through their hair, and the emotion in their eyes create a powerful visual story of their connection."

Gaston Jarju is currently in his final year at Berea College, pursuing a Computer Science major and a minor in Business Administration. At his college, he participates in the Labor Program as a student photographer, where he specializes in portrait photography, including studio portraits and outdoor event photography. The images he captures connect the college to the outside audience like alumni, donors, prospective students, and other key stakeholders. Gaston believes that there is beauty in the little things, and he is glad that he took that leap to explore the field of photography because by recording the happiest moments of his audience, he spends more time thinking about the good things. Photography has given him that solace! And you can check his work on his website, jarjugphotography.com.

For the better part of a decade, award-winning photographer Jason Jones has focused on wildlife and landscape photography. As a native Dawsonian, that concentration area changed at 10:32 p.m. on December 10, 2021, when an EF-4 tornado decimated his hometown. Jason's mission to preserve the tornado's aftermath and Dawson Springs' rebuilding efforts in a historical account of photographs began that night with his foray into the darkness to assess the damage.

Jason has donated his 69-page illustration of the tornado's destruction to the Dawson Springs Museum & Art Center and to the Dawson Springs Branch Library. The book contains over 300 photographs, including A Park in the Path.

To see more of his record of the tornado recovery endeavors, or to view his wildlife and landscape photography, visit his albums on instagram or facebook.

"Home?

"For me it’s been Michigan, Illinois, Florida, and now Kentucky. Each state has its own virtues, its own beauty, its own ancestral pull. Kentucky, my final home for my remaining Golden Years, clobbers new arrivals like me with its authenticity. Kentucky’s struggling saints and sinners, turbulent history, “Bloody Breathitt,” Bluegrass mandolin and fiddle, Bill Monroe, moonshine, knobs, hollers, coal, Gravel Switch, Rabbit Hash, Monkey’s Eyebrow, ramps, papaws, Kentucky River, Daniel Boone, Kentucky Colonels, burgoo and Kentucky Hot Brown, burn-your-belly bourbon, mint juleps, The Derby, Keeneland, sleek horses, soul and place divining writers, love for the local, beautiful women, and gentlemanly manners bespeak a pedigree deeply rooted in tradition. I particularly appreciate Kentucky’s physical beauty I see during my hikes – trees, flowers, landscapes, creeks, and critters. An Abandoned Home draped with Queen Anne’s Lace greeted me during a Summer 2012 hike at Veterans’ Memorial WMA in northern Scott County. It’s a haunting reminder of country family life. Meals around the kitchen table. The smell of bacon, coffee, and fresh bread. Laughter as the dog snatches a slice of cornbread. Games of Old Maid and Poker. Grandpa’s tall tales. Grandma’s pecan pie. More coffee. Men relaxing smoking their pipes and sipping Kentucky bourbon on the porch after a long exhausting day working the farm.

"A home might be abandoned but home will always be with us."

"With over three hundred thousand horses living and working in Kentucky, horses are a vital part of Team Kentucky. Blue Ice was taken at the Kentucky Horse Park during a snow storm. Though ice blanketed the bluegrass, the horses and staff carried on with their routines.

"As an artist photographer living and working in Kentucky, I would be honored to be a part of the Team Kentucky Gallery and share the beauty and love of our state. My practice focuses on telling the stories of our lives, surroundings, challenges and successes. My goal is to create compelling works that uplift and create thoughts and emotions with the potential for growth and change."

Jackie Lucas holds an MFA in Visual Arts and Photography from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and studied art at Memphis College of Art as well as taking equine and sports photojournalism classes at Churchill Downs and Keeneland. Her works are currently on display at the Swope Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, and the Art Center of Corpus Christi. Recent shows include the Black History in Racing Exhibition at the Ali Center and KMAC Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.

"I have spent many hours commuting from Lexington to Frankfort and Louisville for work. I would often build in extra time to take the scenic route, which allowed me to witness some pretty spectacular sunrises. The day I captured this image, I was driving down Leestown Road on a foggy summer morning. I typically have my Canon with me, however on this day, all I had was my phone. Like the saying goes, 'the best camera is the one that’s with you.' I pulled off on the side of the road and probably took a dozen or more photos. I may have been a little late making it to work on this day, as it was impossible to pull myself away from such a beautiful moment!"

"I am honored to have my photo included with so many other talented photographers. I am an amateur photographer living in Woodford County for the past 28 years. I have always enjoyed being outdoors and photography gives me an excuse to get out to enjoy nature. In recent years I have been able to explore and photograph places in our state that most folks have never visited. I especially enjoy shooting waterfalls, arches, and bluegrass sunrises/sunsets.

"For this exhibit I wanted to show off our beautiful horse farms. The morning I took this photo in 2020, I awoke early to the full moon shining in my bedroom window and about 2 inches of fresh snow. I knew the moon would set in less than an hour, so I hurried to gather my camera and other gear. This location is one of my favorite sunset spots, so I figured I might get a good shot that morning. The sun was beginning to rise in the east which painted the sky an amazing mix of colors and turned the silver moon pink. There was a thin layer of fog hugging the ground in the distance. I stayed at this magical spot until the moon slipped behind the trees in the distance. I spent the rest of that amazing morning driving around shooting winter photos of farms, horses, and creeks. It was a great day!

"The first full moon of the year is named the Wolf Moon for the howling wolves that are active during the early part of the year. The name is thought to have Celtic and Old English origins brought over to North America by European settlers."

"Some of what I love capturing are places people don't normally see – the secret corners of your everyday world. You may drive over train tracks every day, but what you may not know is that just beyond your view lies a forgotten train bridge.

"Railroads have a history of connecting people throughout Kentucky. At their peak usage, railroads ran through almost every small town. Now many of them are left abandoned.

"I find and document places discarded by the world. In their stillness, you can only imagine what energy used to fill the air."

"As a Hopkins County, Kentucky, native, two of my earliest hobbies were video games and hunting. In 2011, a work project put a DSLR camera in my hands for the first time. I was intrigued by the technical aspects of digitally capturing an image and later discovered that two of my past interests, hunting and video games, could merge and evolve within the medium of digital photography. While my peak areas of focus are landscapes and wildlife, I also enjoy candid street photography.

"I largely employ a technical approach to photography: scouting and tracking wildlife; factoring in weather and weather patterns; planning and timing to best utilize natural lighting; gauging probabilities; and even factoring in the habits and routines of a subject. It is in the details of the process that I derive significant joy in the capturing of a single image. Whether it be a celestial long exposure shot in the middle of the night, where cloud cover, humidity and human interference might be the biggest challenges, or an otter whose activity I’ve been tracking for weeks, the correlation between hunting and my personal application of photography cannot be denied.

"Additionally, my personal view on post-processing or digital development of images will vary from the views and opinions of many photographers. I love exploring what technology can bring to art through the skilled use of post-processing. Often the camera lens alone can’t capture what the eye sees, but by utilizing the tools provided us in digital photography I can create the image as I perceive it and am therefore not limited to the basic functionality of camera hardware. In this way I see digital processing as an extension of the medium, another opportunity for creativity, rather than at odds with traditional photography.

"Similarly, through the narrow focus of our 'daily lens,' we may have a tendency to view the people, structures, and occasions around us with an air of disinterest or apathy. With street photography, I am able to selectively isolate a snippet of human experience for examination in a more thoughtful and intentional manner. The idea behind my street photography is to hopefully evoke an emotion or avenue of thought which the viewer may not have previously considered or personally experienced. Unposed, organic, and raw, I like the idea of being able to document things 'as they are,' or at least, 'as I see them.'

"I am fortunate to share my love of photography with my father, Alan Morgan. Through photography our relationship has grown into my most valued adult friendship as we challenge each other toward greater creative accomplishments. Many days one can find us cruising the banks of Lake Beshear in our old pontoon boat in search of opportunity and inspiration. In 2020, Alan and I embarked on fine art print and canvas making. This has proven to be yet another rewarding opportunity that photography has brought to my life. Josh Morgan Photography specializes in archival-grade printmaking, and hand-stretched canvases. Via the business of printing, I am able to collaborate with other creatives in helping bring their work into two-dimensional existence and restore and preserve family heirlooms, as well as share my own images through print. I love the idea that I can produce and preserve an image for generations to come through the use of high-quality materials and equipment, regardless of where technology may lead us with photo storage in the future.

"My image, Eagle Watching Over Lake Beshear, is one of many bald eagle images I’ve captured over the years. Proximity has allowed me to observe and track the members of this eagle family over the last 5 years. What at one time may have been seen as a once-in-a-lifetime sighting is now a near-weekly occurrence for those of us blessed enough to live in the little slice of heaven we call Dawson Springs, Kentucky."

"I grew up in Grace, Kentucky – a small farming community just west of Manchester in Clay County, which has been deemed one of the hardest places in America to live. I reside on the same land my family has farmed and lived for more than 200 years. I have been involved in photography since 1990 and, over time, I have settled on two area’s I find the most challenging: Landscape and Sports.

"Photography is deeper for me than taking a pretty picture; I hope to invoke memories of our ancestors and all they had to overcome, living in such a rugged, isolated, beautiful world, hopefully to inspire individuals to take better care of Kentucky. My main objective with my photography work is to inspire a sense of pride in the people that’s been lost. I want to show the citizens of Eastern Kentucky when you slow down, stop, think, and take a closer look around, we have so much to be proud of, hopefully instilling a better sense of stewardship, knowing we are the descendants of the toughest, most caring, smartest, resilient people in America.

"I hope my photos of the beauty around Clay County, and Kentucky, impact people in a positive way, allowing them a glimpse of all that we are, all that we were, and all that we have. Beauty is all around, and I am a proud Kentuckian using my humble view to hopefully share Kentucky’s beauty and spirit with the world. It is a great honor to be given this opportunity to have one of my images in the Team Kentucky Gallery."

"I walk by this clock tower every day on my way to work; it was just another part of the background, a landmark on my morning commute.

"Sometimes, we start to overlook the small moments. We get so used to the monotony of day-to-day life, we stop seeing the incredible things happening around us, all the time.

"This photo represents those small moments. I looked up one day, and saw the birds, the clouds, and the light, and wondered how many other incredible things I was missing by not looking."

"I was born and raised in the back woods of Winchester, so it's no wonder I feel so at home under a canopy of trees. Nature is where I find most of my creative inspirations. I took a photography class while studying Journalism at Eastern Kentucky University in 2015 and I've had my trusty D3200 with me ever since.

"This photograph was taken at Mammoth Cave in the fall during my first wedding anniversary with my husband. This particular scene can be found on the River Styx Spring Trail. No cars, no planes, no other people around. Just the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling against a crisp fall breeze. It truly was A Moment of Peace."

"In Kentucky, bourbon whiskey is an iconic heritage industry and an integral part of American history since frontier times. More than two hundred commercial distilleries were operating in Kentucky before Prohibition, but only sixty-one reopened after its repeal in 1933. During the 1980s, bourbon declined in popularity, closing most of those. Then, in the new millennium, bourbon began a comeback. Today bourbon is not only a major commercial and financial success story for Kentucky nationally, but also an ambassador for the Bluegrass State internationally as well. Bourbon tourism recorded 1.7 million visits in 2019. This year, one major distillery alone reported over 340,00 visitors, a 16% increase over previous years.

"I began photographing abandoned distilleries in 2010 as an industrial archaeology project. My photography was focused on Kentucky’s industrial history and bringing public awareness to heritage sites. At that time many of the distilleries that had shut down in the 1980s were deteriorated and abandoned with original 1930s machinery still inside. I began photographing the abandoned factories with the hope that I might capture some of the earlier vitality and a sense of what once was. Eventually I expanded the project to include National Historic Landmark sections of currently operating distilleries. In 2015 the University Press of Kentucky published those images in my book, The Birth of Bourbon: A Photographic Tour of Early Distilleries.

"The image presented here is the original column still found inside Old Taylor Distillery, before it was bought and restored as Castle and Key Distillery in Frankfort. The still, over five stories high, was surrounded by metal catwalks from the 1930s as well as arches, walls, and stone works from the 1880s distillery built by E.H. Taylor."

Don Perkins is a Jessamine County photographer with a passion for kayaking and hiking. Landscapes, waterscapes, wildlife and wildflowers are his primary interests.Don was born and raised in South Carolina until moving to Prospect, KY at the first year of high school. He was always interested in photography. His first photo was a selfie at age one with a 110 film cartridge camera with a cube flash. He graduated to using an early Polaroid camera, then his grandmother's Kodak Duraflex IV camera that used 620 film. By the time he finished high school, he owned a 35mm Pentax K1000, and he dabbled in processing his own black and white film in college at Georgia Tech. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, he was mostly “nose to the grindstone” for 20 years at IBM and Lexmark in Lexington – other than completing a Master of Science degree in Computer Science at UK. He continued doing some photography during this time, but mostly snapshots.

Retiring in 2006 at age 44, Don started pursuing all kinds of new adventures, including both flatwater and whitewater kayaking. Don also decided to take the plunge into digital photography and has never looked back. For the past 9 years, cameras have been a constant companion on all of his adventures. He is considered a semi-professional now. His first commercial venture was to create the Jessamine County Trails web site including all the photos and maps. He has also done work for Spurlin Funeral Home in Stanford. He has had 20+ photos exhibited at Central Bank in Lexington and at the Jessamine County Public Library in the last few years.

Donald Perkins Photography
donaldperkinsphotography.com
facebook.com/DonaldPerkinsPhotography

'I cannot remember a time when I didn’t have a camera in hand – ever since I earned the My Camera badge in Girl Scouts. I also have had a lifelong love of horses – all kinds, draft, quarter, thoroughbreds – you name it. I’m a city girl, so I never had the opportunity to be around horses much; so when Ellis Racetrack in Henderson opened the barn area to local photography clubs, I jumped at the chance. This photo was captured after the horse had finished his morning workout. I could almost hear the horse sigh 'Ahhhhh' as the spray cooled him down."

Kyle Shepherd (she/her/hers) is a publicist/PR manager by day, National Geographic photographer by dream, and a true Kentucky girl!

"The beauty of our state inspires me. From the mountains to our majestic gentle beasts on four legs (horses), there is never a shortage of beautiful scenes to photograph and explore. I spend most of my free weekends in my yellow convertible Beetle, cruising this or that backroad of Kentucky in search of a picturesque photograph. The day I snapped Hay, Girl, Hay was a fun day. I talk to the horses, so they inevitably walk over to me. This day there must have been 25 horses in this field, and all of them ran to see me. I didn’t have food either! These three were by far the friendliest, just like our fellow Kentuckians. As I’ve been pulled off of many side roads with camera in hand, the good people of our state have always slowed down to check on me to ensure I am not in need of help. Take a ride to Midway, Lexington or Frankfort and take in these majestic animals. Be sure to take a photo."

girlkylephoto.com

"Born and raised in the Derby City, I first became interested in the art of photography when I was a high school student. For years my artistic interests took a backseat while I pursued my career in nursing and raised my two children. When my daughter was in middle school I picked my camera back up and found inspiration in the abandoned and forgotten places. I was mesmerized by the beauty of nature taking these places over and find the mystery of them fascinating. I also have a deep love for nature and my passion is exploring the back roads and sharing its beauty in my photographs. The photograph on display is a result of one of my back road adventures. It was a random barn along the side of the road with a peaceful feeling and left me thinking this was Simply Kentucky.

"I’ve turned my passion into a small business by developing my Etsy store, TaschaMariePrints, where you can go to view and purchase prints of my random adventures.

"I am a graphic designer by profession, but I love capturing the world around me with my phone, particularly a good sky. There is something magical about the sky above my Richmond neighborhood¬ – I have seen more rainbows in the past 10 years I’ve lived here than I had in the previous 30 years combined – as well as glorious pink, orange and purple sunrises and sunsets, gray and blue thunderstorms moving in, and every type of fluffy white cloud imaginable in the bright blue of midday.

"Early one morning, while waiting with my daughter at the bus stop, I snapped a photo of this rain cloud moving slowly across the horizon like some ambivalent giant from a fairytale, changing from purple to pink to white as the sun rose. I think I took at least 10 pictures of it over the next half hour before it finally broke apart.

"I hope this selection from that series can serve as a reminder that even in the hectic day-to-day activities of life (like getting the kids on the school bus), don’t forget to look up from time to time."

Tonia Rice Witt, a native of Montgomery County, has a passion to share new views and perspectives in all she does. Tonia Witt Photography has produced two photo books and is one of the top photographers for Sports View America and Rise Up Sports Media.