Team Kentucky Digital Art Gallery

The photograph is of Yahoo Falls in Whitley County, Kentucky, part of the Big South Fork area. This was taken in mid-April while I was participating in the Cumberland Falls State Park Photo Weekend. I am a hobbyist photographer and I travel all over Kentucky and the United States photographing landscapes, nature, and wildlife. The United States is a beautiful country to photograph. I grew up living near Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge in Eastern Kentucky and spent a lot of time in both areas taking photographs.

Austin Anthony is a freelance photographer in Bowling Green, Kentucky, who worked as a photojournalist at the Bowling Green Daily News for six years before getting laid off.

“This photo was taken just a few months after getting let go. At the paper I always loved taking photos of my beloved Bowling Green in the snow, and I felt compelled to grab my camera and take a walk downtown as the snow fell that February evening. It was an important moment in regaining my confidence behind the camera, and in the years since, I’ve found my footing as a freelancer, with photos on the front pages of the Washington Post and the New York Times. In the past year I've been focusing on corporate advertising and have worked with Kentucky companies like Houchens Industries and Logan Aluminum. If you know a company in need of some professional photos, please reach out.”

First of all, I don’t consider myself an artist. I am an amateur photographer just striving to take the elusive perfect shot.

My foray into photography began, as I suspect it did with a lot of people my age (hint – just became Medicare eligible), playing with my parents’ camera, a Voigtländer my father brought home from Germany during his time in the army. Lack of funds for film and processing severely limited my photographic development (no pun intended).

After graduation from the University of Kentucky, I acquired a Nikon EM 35mm SLR film camera with a series E 50mm lens (I should have held onto it. That model was only made for a couple of years. It may be a collector’s item. Besides, film is making a comeback.) During that phase of my life, work, getting married, purchasing a house, etc., got in the way of photography, and the camera was relegated to documenting vacations, birthdays, and holiday gatherings. It was pre-social media, so the photos didn’t even make it “online” and for the most part ended up in a desk drawer.

Two things happened during Y2K that dramatically changed my photographic journey, one obvious, one not so obvious: A Digital Camera and Youth League Sports. Purchase of my first digital camera coincided with my son’s starting to participate in youth league basketball and baseball. For the next seventeen years, my son played Little League, middle and high school baseball and basketball, and finally varsity college baseball. I was passionate about photographing him and his teammates and the digital camera allowed me to learn by trial and error, shooting thousands of photos. As he was honing his skills as an athlete, I was honing mine as a photographer, always striving for that perfect sports shot.

Then as quickly as is started, it ended. My son graduated. But by that time, I was hooked. I needed to shoot. But I no longer had diamond or court side access and frankly didn’t have the motivation to shoot teams that I didn’t have a rooting interest in. I was technically competent with the camera but other than sports, felt like a beginner in all genres of photography. So, for the past six years I feel like I have been starting over, searching for my niche, photographing anything and everything that gets in front of my lens, and still waiting to take that perfect shot.

Vine Ripened in the Bluegrass
Like many Kentuckians, I believe that the taste of a home-grown, vine ripened, picked fresh off your own plant, tomato is hard to beat. For that reason, even though I live in a suburban Lexington neighborhood, for a number of years, I have grown a handful of tomato plants every summer.

In the summer of 2021, one of my plants produced a cluster of tomatoes that were just begging to be photographed. Not before or since has one of my plants produced that number of tomatoes in such a close proximity to each other. Even when all the fruit was still dark green, I knew that I might have an interesting photo as the tomatoes ripened and showed their colors ranging from green to bright red. So, every day I watched and when the first ones turned red, I decided it was time for the shot. As the sun went down, so as not to show the rest of the backyard, I lit the plant with an off-camera flash, and took the photograph.

From a technical perspective, it was one of the easiest photos that I have ever taken. It was only ten feet from my back door, there was only one logical composition, the subject was stationary, and very little post processing was needed. But in another sense, it was one of the hardest. I knew I had to wait until at least one tomato had ripen to a bright red, and as any of you who grow tomatoes know, rabbits, squirrels, and other varmints also like backyard grown tomatoes. For a couple of weeks, I breathed a sigh of relieve every morning when I saw that the garden had not been raided overnight.

The photograph was awarded Best Color Image in the Lexington Creative Camera Club 2022 Annual Print Show and Best Digital Photograph at the 2023 Kentucky State Fair. And best of all, my wife Carrie and I got to eat all those delicious Vine Ripened in the Bluegrass tomatoes.

Debra Booker is an artist/photographer living in Lexington, Kentucky. She has been showing her abstract collages, paintings, and photography since 1986. She loves finding beauty everywhere, often in overlooked or forgotten places. She loves incorporating vintage paper, magazines, catalogs, etc. and enjoys evoking our common connection to the past. Her photography often includes reflections, shadows, flora, and close up details of time weathered surfaces like vintage cars, peeling paint, graffiti, etc. She so enjoys and feels the need to take time to really notice, document, and share.

Lisa A. Brown, a resident of Lexington, Kentucky, is an award-winning photographer. She is a member of several photography organizations, including the Tates Creek Photography Group and the Creative Camera Club, one of Lexington’s oldest camera groups. She was named Best Beginning Photographer of the Year by the CCC in 2019. Brown’s passion for photography ignited after being laid off from her job. As a person of faith, she distinctly recalls that the Lord instructed her to purchase a camera despite being unemployed. She listened to that small voice, bought a camera and other gear, and joined numerous photography groups, where professional photographers mentored her.

She found her niche in landscape photography and uses the lens of her camera to connect with nature, whether it is taking a picture of a delicate flower, snowcapped mountains, or an exotic bird. Her love for God’s creation began as a child when her mother unwittingly planted a seed within her. Not fully comprehending, Brown would sit in the back seat watching her mother praise God as they drove along the Kentucky interstate while the hills, clouds, and trees enamored her mother.

Besides landscape photography, Brown engages in the CCC’s bi-monthly competitions, where the photographic theme may focus on backlit, reflection, long exposure, light painting, and portrait photography.

Her work has been exhibited throughout Kentucky, including the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage in Louisville, local and regional hospitals, WUKY Studios, the Living Arts and Science Center, the National Alliance on Mental Illness in partnership with the Louisville Actors Theatre, and Lex Arts.

Reflections of My Brokenness is a candid depiction of the physical and emotional trauma Brown faced after suffering multiple accidents, watching her parents die, and being a Black woman in a racially and politically “Divided States of America.” Although the model in the photograph is surrounded by darkness, Brown intentionally focused on her eye to illustrate that our circumstances do not define us, and that God is able to restore our vision. The model wears a circular earring and nose ring symbolizing that life is not linear. Light bounces from her earring, which also symbolizes wholeness. Even in a broken state, Brown believes we can be made whole.

My interest in photography began almost 30 years ago, when I was on a trip to Alaska with my son. I had a point-and-shoot camera and the bear looked like a little dot. An elderly English fellow let me look through his single lens reflex camera with a telephoto lens. I was amazed that I could see the incredible detail of the bear, and from that point on, I was hooked on photography.

I’ve been able to take some great photography trips, but I also photograph close to home. In fact, I often do table photography in my basement and enjoy finding interesting objects to use as props. While I photograph a wide range of subjects, including landscape, architecture, portraiture, abstracts, flowers, and animals, my favorite area is nature in all its forms.

I enjoy walking in rural areas, and it was on one of my walks that I came across an old barn. It wasn’t until I got close that I saw the owl just resting on the ledge of one of the openings. The owl looked so peaceful, probably because the barn was his home. Using a Nikon Z7ii with a 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 mirrorless lens, I was able to get great detail. I was fortunate enough to get a few shots before he took flight. A good day for both of us.

The digital photograph The River was captured on a September morning while hiking the Asbury Trails in Wilmore, at a bend in the Kentucky River. It is rare to see the surface of a river so still, with the juxtaposition of the mist rolling across the mirrored surface even more striking. In addition, the reflection of the morning sky on the glass-like surface of the river was stunning.

Rachel Bugaris lives in Lexington, Kentucky, is a retired engineer, avid hiker, amateur photographer, and lover of all things creative.

Gene Burch has been photographing Frankfort and central Kentucky for over 30 years. His photographs are displayed in homes, offices, and businesses all over central Kentucky. His photography is prominent in six coffee table books: A Walking Tour of Historic Frankfort: A Photographic Journey; Frankfort Cemetery, the Westminster Abbey of Kentucky; Frankfort, Yesterday and Today; Frankfort in Pictures; and Frankfort and Beyond. He can be reached at gburch1946@gmail.com. 

As a photographer, Jenny carefully studies the subtle intricacies of the environment, being sure to capture special moments often overlooked by a blinking eye, thus preserving raw emotions of her subjects with the lens of her camera. She cultivates inspiration from the magic that blossoms around us. The world is full of moments of pure love and tenderness if we all take a moment to notice them. She strives to snap photos that convey raw emotions and the connections that exist between people and in nature. As she wraps up her degree this year in digital photography through Arizona State University, she hopes to have the opportunity to capture many more meaningful moments in Frankfort and surrounding areas.

Candlelight was taken amid the excitement right after the lighting of the Christmas tree in downtown Frankfort. The excitement was palpable, and the magic of the community was on full display. Small towns exist all over the world and each has their own dynamic – this is ours. And if you listen hard enough, you might hear the banging of the Kentucky State University drums among the joyful sounds of your neighbors.

I have been interested in photography since I was young. I remember loving my parents’ Kodak instant camera and the thrill of having that picture right away. I got a Canon of my own later on and loved being able to send off the film to develop, waiting to get back the images. I dreamed of being a National Geographic photographer. And Indiana Jones. Neither plan fell into place, and I got a degree in journalism instead. After many years of life’s interruptions, I finally reawakened my love for photography in my 40s.

Landscape photography is one of my passions. If I can take a weekend and hunt for a perfect photo with a sunset or a sunflower in front of a barn, it’s the most satisfying feeling to know that I got the shot I wanted. On this particular weekend in September, my husband and I were at the farm of a friend of ours in Garrard County. He has this old blue tractor, and the sun was setting over his pond just perfectly. All the colors came together spectacularly. That was my shot, and it was glorious.

I have lived in Garrard County most of my life but was also raised in Florida and Massachusetts. I reside with my husband, son, my father-in-law, and our pets. I also have an adult stepson and an adult daughter.

My name is Lydia Clay, and I am a longtime resident of Kentucky. I attended Morehead State University where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art Education. While attending MSU, I had the opportunity to take classes at the university farm. Diamond was a beautiful Appaloosa horse that I had the pleasure of meeting while taking these classes. Over the years she played a vital role in the educational experience of many students. This photograph serves as a way to preserve her memory and honor her dedication to the Kentucky youth.

You can see more of my works or contact me to inquire about commissions through my website or on my Instagram.

Ernest Cattingway (or The Mouse Also Runs) was taken at a shoot for the Itty-Bitty Kitten Rescue based in Lexington. IBKR focuses on saving the smallest of kittens who have had an unfortunate entry into the world. As a polydactyl feline, Ernest is a one of what are sometimes referred to as Hemingway cats, and he has an extra toe on each of his paws.

I am a professional photographer based in Lexington who focuses on bourbon lifestyle, architectural and low light photography as part of Three O Studios. A retired college professor, I spend my time focusing on art and how to find beauty in a sometimes-ugly world. I've made my home in Lexington for almost 40 years and love this state with great passion.

I am a professional braille transcriber and have been photographing for most of my life. From a single college elective when I was 18, until today, I’ve explored using photography to not only capture what I can see in front of me, but also the things I know are there, but can't see with the naked eye, such as with light paintings like the one in this exhibition. The light painting photos I take, including this one of Nada Tunnel, are single-exposure images, taken by leaving the shutter open a long time and capturing the image in that time. There is no Photoshop “trickery” or composition. I only use Photoshop to adjust basic things like brightness and contrast. The sparks in the image in Nada Tunnel were created with nothing more than steel wool being spun around in a kitchen whisk. After my partner did that, he and I used flashlights to light up the rocks around the mouth of the tunnel. The image took a total of 1 minute and 4 seconds to capture. I love the magic that can happen when I not only let light be what illuminates my subjects, but when light itself becomes the subject.

Only the people within Kentucky truly understand the awe-inspiring beauty of the Bluegrass State. Being a lifelong resident of Knott County, Marlea Cornett enjoys capturing the picturesque scenery of Kentucky. Whether it be of the fog rolling over the peaks of the Appalachian Mountains in the early morning hours, the radiant glare of the blue moon off the many waterfalls across the state, or the pristine flowers that grow deep in the hollows, she enjoys capturing the profound beauty of everyday life and natural charm of our state and its people.

Let your kids experience the world and get a little dirty in the process. This award-winning photograph titled Wish was captured by Marlea as she watched her son exploring nature. As his little fingers plucked the small white puff from the ground, he shut his eyes tightly and quietly imagined his wish before blowing the pieces of white fluff out into the wind. A yard full of golden dandelions in bloom can be a gorgeous sight to behold. Eventually, all those beautiful flowers turn to white globes of exposed seeds that some call “Wish Flowers.” Think about your wish as you take a deep breath, and blow. For the wish to work, you must try to blow all the seeds off at once. Part of the magic is knowing that your intentions are being sent far and wide. Watch until the last seed is out of sight for your wish to come true. Seeing this child wishing, blowing, and believing in the wonders of a simple dandelion has a way of reminding us all that there is still beauty and magic to be found in this world, and within ourselves.

You may see more of Marlea Cornetts Photography at facebook.com/chiccreekmedia or chiccreekmeida.lightfolio.com

There is something beautiful about the natural world that most people seem to miss. The way light moves between trees to create dancing shadows or the sound of water rushing down a hillside creek. My work tries to capture this beauty with photography throughout Kentucky.

My favorite places are those that show off what Kentucky has to offer. From waterfalls to mountains, farms to lakes, photography allows me to explore these places and share them with people who may not have the time or ability to visit them.

This photo was taken early one morning as the sun rose through some storm clouds over the East Pinnacles in Berea, Kentucky.

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 her home state.

Kelly loves spending time outdoors, looking for awe and wonder in quiet, ordinary places that people often overlook.

Kelly took this image of one of Louisville’s most iconic landmarks at St. James Court. The fountain features a statue of Venus rising from the sea. It was installed in 1897.

“This is one of my all-time favorite autumn photos that I’ve shot over the years,” Kelly said.

This long-exposure image, a winner at the Kentucky State Fair, was exhibited in an all-metal gallery show at Unique Imaging Concepts. The city of Louisville also used this image on one their tourism banners.

“As a photographer, I like to explore my hometown the same way I would explore a new town when I travel,” Kelly said. “I want to capture the beauty and energy of local neighborhoods. I want my Kentucky photographs to inspire people to explore our commonwealth.”

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.

There’s an old saying: “If you don’t like the weather in Kentucky, just wait ten minutes.” Well, in late March of 2018, when it was officially spring, we received the biggest snow of that year and the previous year in Lexington. What started out as a sunny spring morning suddenly became a heavy snow day with a dark silver sky, thus giving us our first and last chance to enjoy proper winter weather (albeit in spring). Then after a brief time of enjoying the snow, the sun came back and the snow melted, as if it had never existed before. This photograph reminds me that while the Kentucky weather can be unpredictable, even dangerous, it is also magical and should never be taken for granted.

With a passion for storytelling through her lens, photographer Cindy Fogg aims to capture the unique essence of people, along with their cultures, habitat, and surrounding landscapes. Raised in a small town with a thirst for adventure, Cindy’s passion for photography blossomed during her travels. She found her inspiration in the personalities and unique stories of the people she encountered. Driven by wanderlust, she has explored the world, seeking out hidden gems and unexplored corners to photograph. Her travel experiences have influenced her artistic style, enriching her perspective and allowing her to tell stories through her work.

Cindy also has a strong passion for landscape photography. She finds solace and inspiration in the great outdoors and is constantly awed by the magic of nature. From majestic mountains to serene lakes, from lush forests to thinning glaciers, she is quick to venture off the beaten path to find the most picturesque locations to share the natural beauty of each scene.

Whether traveling in her backyard through the rolling hills of Kentucky, experiencing bustling city markets, exploring ancient cities, or trekking through remote mountains, Cindy aspires to capture the beauty of the world in every photo she shares. By documenting the diversity and beauty of people, cultures, and landscapes, she hopes to inspire others to leave their comfort zone to explore and connect with others.

I am a hobbyist photographer who has always been interested in photography as an art form. Life did get in the way temporarily. After about 30 years away, however, my retirement years have given me another opportunity to pursue my passion.

My camera is used as a way for me to document the world around me. My preferred subject matter tends toward the eclectic. I try to depict the beauty of this world around us. At times my goal is to stir an emotional response, which might inspire the viewer to action.

This photo, Springtime at the Pennyrile, was taken in mid-April, when the red buds were showing off their beautiful colors and the trees were kissed with various shades of green. Springtime in Kentucky is the best place to be!

The subject of this photo is Bruce Young, the patriarch of the Young family in Lewis County. It was taken some time in the mid to late 1980s by an unnamed family member using a 35mm camera. When he passed away in 2008, the photo was rediscovered as we prepared for his funeral. It’s a tremendous representation of him personally and Kentucky farmers in general. The years of hard work and grit are obvious to the observer. As we are seemingly obsessed in 2024 with putting ourselves front and center in every photograph, Bruce Young and his fellow farmers didn’t have time for your silliness because there was still work to be done.

As a mother of two energetic and sometimes-a-bit-chaotic little boys, I discovered that their love for all things wild and my love of creating art intersect at butterflies. So, chasing butterflies has become our shared happy place. I expand our garden every spring to welcome more pollinators to our home in Lexington. I only ask in return that they tolerate the clicking sounds of my camera's shutter.

While photography is my primary medium, I also work in paint, quilts, and woodcraft. It brings me great joy to capture the magic in everyday moments and to create art that uplifts the spirits of others.

Louisville Riverfront at Sunset was photographed in the spring of 2020 and features a river barge passing by Louisville's historic riverfront and under its iconic gateway bridges at sunset.

John Hultgren is a fine art and conservation photographer, author, and educator from Louisville, Kentucky, who uses photography to advocate for conservation outcomes, protecting nature and improving the natural environment. As an independent artist he sells photographic art prints at regional juried art shows, on-line, and through stock photography agencies.

John is the author of “The Photographer's Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains” and teaches photography at Bellarmine University. He is the past president of the Kentuckiana Photography Club and an active member of the Louisville Photographic Society. A photojournalism major in college, John is a retired critical care trauma center helicopter paramedic who worked in public safety for 52 years.

You can see more of his photographs at hultgren.org.

For the past eight years of photographing nature and wildlife, I have lived by the mantra of capturing moments revealed through patience. My vision is that my nature and wildlife images be a window to moments of contemplation where the unseen magnificence of the natural world unfolds and connects us in meaningful ways.

Illuminated by the fiery orange bokeh from the setting sun, this Grackle’s exhilarating landing symbolizes the resilience and vibrancy of Kentucky’s nature, wildlife, and people.

When I took this image of the Grackle arriving to check on its hatchling, with its wings stretched out against the fiery canvas, I couldn't help but see the indomitable spirit of Kentucky – a commitment to embracing even the last light of day with unparalleled energy, courage, and vigor.

To learn more about this image, inquire about prints, and view other moments please visit my portfolio. You can also follow me on Instagram.

Hope, then and now …

Black Lives Matter, Summer of (COVID)2020, Vine Street, Lexington

Photography has always fascinated me; I sorta grew up in a photography studio as my great-grandfather (Barton Battaile) was a professional photographer. A photograph, like most art, is about where it takes your mind, not just what you see on the surface.

When I look at this photo, my mind’s eye takes me back to an older B&W photo that my brother-in-law took of me in 1972, sitting on a bench with my date (whom I’ve been married to for 50 years now) while his rock’n’roll band (SPUD) was warming up to play for the opening of Vine Street in downtown Lexington.

That iconic photo of the times shows me in 70s attire, halter top, hip huggers with splits, arm band, clogs, shag haircut, as my hippie-musician “boyfriend” with long hair, is sitting beside me on a bench in front of Levas’ Restaurant, with his arm on my shoulder, flirting with me, while, a middle-aged conservative woman, dressed for church, with purse in lap, looks at and past us, disapprovingly.

I continue thinking, back in 1972, the year of the Equal Rights Amendment, I was not able to get a driver’s license in my maiden-name in Kentucky, nor was I able to get birth control without a man’s permission. Little did I know that the things we fought so hard for back then, would be our same challenges 50 years later. Back then, I had hope for equality for all.

Flash forward 50 years to 2020, and I find myself here, taking this photo, at the other end of Vine Street, a street where many of my life’s events have occurred. When I look at the photo of my son in the foreground, walking back toward the BLM protesters led by Sarah Williams during the summer of 2020, I have hope that my son’s generation will continue the fight.

Downtown Lexington is where I grew up and where my family shopped. There were no tall buildings back then, just small family businesses, but now there are only tall banks and hotels. I wish you could see the B&W photo that I see in my mind. The contrast is stark.

So, this photo evokes many emotions for me: 50 years of changes in downtown Lexington; the other end of Vine where I had my second date with my husband; and now walking from this end of Vine with my son, back to Old Vine to protest for Black Lives Matter.

I hope my son’s generation not only fights for equal rights for all, but that they keep always fighting so they never lose them again like “we” did.

Autumn Radiance is about peace and the enjoyment of simple things. A cool fall day, the leaves changing colors, the sound of water, and the gentle steps required when walking on loose rocks. The composition was a deliberate balance between warm and cool colors. The red dress is highlighted by the blue shawl, which is in turn illuminated by a warm sun. The vertical lines of the figure and the reflection help to create the feeling of stability. Moments like this become the things we rely upon. Peaceful moments by ourselves wherein we find safety and freedom.

This photo is also a celebration of beauty. That which is found in both nature and in the feminine spirit. The red dress, blue shawl, and nearly bare feet each speak of the harmony between her beauty and that of the beauty around her. It is the kind of beauty that should be honored and protected. It is a reflection of the divine and eternal beauty that remains.

The picture was taken in Lexington. It is one of many I took to create reference photos I could use for paintings. After having a 20-year career as an art and video teacher, I have embarked on a second career with my wife as small business owners and original works of art are one of the things we offer. It is my drive to create images of peace and rest and echo the beauty of God.

I’d like to thank Dacian, my wife, and my children, Alex and Kendall, for supporting and believing in me – it means more than I can ever tell you.

I’d like to also thank Meredith for being the model and a constant source of friendship and encouragement.

I am truly blessed to have amazing friends and family.

Heather Murray is a visual artist living and working in Louisville, Kentucky. Throughout her artistic development, she has experimented with many different media to express herself creatively. While her focus is acrylic painting, she has always had a passion for photography.

During the COVID lockdown, her sister challenged the family members to take interesting black and white photos of our immediate surroundings and share them with her. Heather found small details in life created interesting photos. Whether it be water droplets on a glass or a close-up of leaves, interesting textures and contrast were all around. This eye for capturing small moments remained after the lockdown.

She snapped this photo of a small detail on a decaying metal picnic table where she spends her lunch breaks during nice weather. The photo has been digitally enhanced to create a visual feast of colors and texture.

“It is an honor to have my work included in the Team Kentucky Gallery exhibit. My paintings can be seen on my website at artonivy.com.”

This digital photo of an early morning moon setting over a snowy pasture is true to the camera image in that no alterations by cropping, color changes, or any other Photoshop techniques have been made. The print is straight from the camera, printed on fine art paper using an inkjet printer.

As a lifelong practitioner of classical photography, I try to follow in the footsteps of the early Masters of the medium, maintaining the purity of the scene.

River Tooth Farm is located on the Kentucky River. In Shed Light, the river is just beyond the hill the shed sits on.

Photography has been an interest of mine since high school. Now in college, I have had less time for taking photos than I would like, but it makes the instances when I do have time all the better. I feel that photos allow you to see the world through another perspective, and it is great to be able to share mine.

This photograph of soybeans was taken at Brown Meadow Farm in Earlington, Kentucky, in July 2022. I was out late that evening checking the crop as the sun was going down. I thought, “What a nice evening!” I was enjoying God’s beauty, so I took a picture. It captured the sun shining down, the height of the plants with the soil included, and the contours of the rows. All of these are important to me when it comes to farming especially the soil. I’m equally amazed at every stage of the growing season. I’m always in awe no matter how many times I see it take place.

I was born in Calhoun, Kentucky, and have spent my life in the Hanson area, where neighbors still help each other. I have been around farming since I was a child. I learned while helping my father and granddad. As a young man, I raised some tobacco crops on leased land with mules. Over the years, I’ve spent many good hours in a tractor seat, working for local farmers. Finally, in my 50s, I’m row cropping. We lease Brown Meadow Farm along with several other farms in Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Webster counties, and farm a little of our own borrowed dirt.

Timber is another tool and beauty provided by the good Lord. It is the most valuable sustainable natural resource in Kentucky, and I’m blessed to own and operate a logging business specializing in select cut timber management. I’ve been in the timber business for over 30 years. I enjoy what I do for a living, and it allows me to farm a little. My favorite thing to do is to walk through stands of timber looking to see how I can help it grow. When harvesting timber, we cut it to grow it by looking at the canopy (top of the trees where the sunlight comes in, which is very important for growth), taking the health into consideration and what the timber needs to grow, and cut accordingly, leaving mature seed trees, and various sizes, so they all can reach for the sky.

I’m thankful that I live in the best spot in the world where you are still free to strive to achieve your dreams. I am honored that my photograph was chosen for the Team Kentucky Gallery and will be hanging in the State Capitol. Thank you for allowing me to share His work.

This image is entitled Morning Dew. It was taken early one summer morning when the dew was still heavy on the daisy. Normally I would walk past this flower every day with little notice. However, one day I stopped and looked closely at the daisy and saw details I had never noticed before. We all usually go through life at full speed – “looking” but not actually “seeing.” Looking at a photograph allows us to pause a few moments to really “see.” Macro photography allows us to get a close-up view, giving us a unique perspective we cannot get with our normal vision. It allows us to see the beauty of the detail of shapes, colors, and textures.

Are flowers beautiful? We know they are because we have sight and can see their beauty. My ten-year-old granddaughter recently developed a very rare disease, neuromyelitis optica (NMO). She lost all her vision for a period of time – thankfully she has regained a lot of it back though she remains vision impaired. Her struggle from blindness to being able to see again has certainly taught me to appreciate the amazing gift of sight. If you have the ability to see, be thankful for your sight and take some time to slow down and “see” the world around you.

Mitch Skaggs is a self-taught photographer. He currently resides in Lexington Kentucky, and is originally from Columbia, Kentucky.

This tree inspires strength and peace. It stands tall and true atop a hill and has withstood many storms. The tree in the photo was outside of my house. I stepped outside during an ice event and the tree took my breath away.

I am a sales manager by trade but an amateur photographer at heart. I find the landscapes of the world fascinating. Black and white photography is my favorite medium to use in my photography.

Unseen patterns of the natural world reveal themselves in these photographic compositions. The remixed image offers a second look at the life around us. Unseen patterns and grids emerge to expose the wondrous organic fabric that we take for granted.

These plant forms are photographed using natural sky light in my studio. The strait photograph is digitally bent and remixed. I am fortunate to be able to gather fauna in and around my home and neighborhood.

Usually producing drawing and mixed media works, these pop art compositions are a departure in some ways but really just another facet wanting to be explored. The beginning of the COVID crisis offered me the rare commodity of time to create and fail and finally produce a body of work that had been waiting to emerge.

James is a mixed media artist and designer living in Lexington.

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.

girlkylephoto.com

I create art that is bold and exciting. I have been creating my entire life. Early on, I was immersed in music and theatre. I was always drawing and creating.

In my adult life, I concentrated on interior design, functional art, and repurposing discarded objects. I have been taking photographs since college and really jumped in when I bought a Nikon DSLR in 2006.

I am an avid photographer of beautiful and unusual things. I’m always enthralled with color, sunsets, the sea, flowers, lines, light, architecture, and the weird. My eyes constantly search for color, details, lighting, and shapes. I am the person driving in front of you that slows and pulls off to the side of the road to photograph something!

I use a Nikon DSLR and my iPhone camera. The best camera you have is the one with you, so my iPhone gets a workout. I love to use some of the lesser-known features of this powerful computer we hold in our hand. I typically shoot in RAW and am able to retain the integrity of the photo for some minor work in Adobe Lightroom to send it to the printer.

My hope is that people find meaning and joy in my artwork and love having it in their space.

About Silent Paddle
This photograph is called Silent Paddle. As I ventured to the banks of the Ohio River in Westport, Kentucky, at the break of dawn, my initial intention was to photograph the fishermen patiently waiting for the all important tugs.

To my surprise, a mystical scene unfolded as the dense mist, a silencer of nature’s symphony, hushed the surroundings, unveiling a surreal canvas where figures gracefully vanished into the nebulous veil. Among them, a lone kayaker materialized, navigating the tranquil waters with an ethereal presence. His oars, gentle whispers in the dampened stillness, dipped into the river’s depths, propelling him forward with a subtle murmur, echoing the kayak’s voyage through the serene waters of the Ohio River.

This photograph encapsulates a moment I encountered during a community event celebrating recovery from substance use disorder.

The image is a kaleidoscope of emotions and experiences – colorful, messy, and scattered – mirroring the spectrum of lives touched by addiction. The chalk, initially a tool for innocent creativity, takes on a deeper significance. Its smudged, ruined state becomes a metaphor for the unseen traumas endured by the children in attendance – those born into the shadows of addiction, incarceration, and homelessness.

The children’s laughter, seemingly carefree as they created their pavement masterpieces, couldn't conceal the mandatory resilience etched into their beings. Behind those joyous expressions lie untold stories of responsibility and sacrifice, far beyond what childhood should bear.

Chalk Memories is a testament to the countless Kentucky children who prematurely traded their innocence for circumstances beyond their control.

I urge viewers to attempt to understand the unseen struggles of children affected by addiction, allowing an opportunity for us all to become more compassionate and empathetic neighbors as we reduce the stigma around addiction and trauma.

Elle Travis is a Frankfort native and graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in Photography and Digital Imaging. In her early career, while in Florida, she worked as a freelance photographer, a full-time nanny, gymnastics coach and homeschool teacher. After a severe auto accident, Elle returned to her Frankfort home where she found recovery following addiction to prescription opioid pain medication.

In 2008, Elle began to establish herself in her hometown community by taking a position with the Kentucky Arts Council. In 2012, Elle followed her passion for working with children to become the Director of Children’s Ministries at First Christian Church, where she still serves today, working with children and overseeing the church’s technology needs. From 2014 to 2022, she served as the Store Manager at Completely Kentucky, a shop in downtown Frankfort carrying the work of 650+ Kentucky artists. Today, Elle is the Executive Director of Yes Arts, a 501(c)3 arts organization in downtown Frankfort with a mission of mobilizing the power of community and the arts to disrupt the cycle of addiction. Elle is passionate about community service and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Franklin County Women and Family Shelter and is currently serving on the Franklin County Board of Health.

Elle enjoys spending her free time with her devoted husband, Pete, their 2 boys, Rhys and Lane, and Rhys’s service dog – a Double Doodle named Toast. She continues her freelance work in photography, digital imaging, graphic design, social media marketing, and dabbles in watercolor, needle felting, jewelry making, and many other forms of art for fun in her spare time.

Anil Vinayakan is a photographer and artist who lives and works in Louisville, Kentucky. He is inspired by the beauty of nature and mostly focuses on landscapes although he occasionally does portraits.

Anil experiences a deep spiritual connection with nature. He uses photography, watercolor, and acrylic, as well as oil paints, to express his artistic inspirations. Anil Vinayakan is represented by KORE art gallery in Louisville.

He is a life member of the Kentucky Watercolor Society and a member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society and American Impressionist Society.

About the photograph
This photograph is taken at Lake Nevin in Bernheim Forest at a fall sunset. Bernheim Forest is a non-profit educational and recreational nature preserve located 20 miles south of Louisville International Airport. This land of over 16,000 acres is a great place to explore and immerse in nature and is a great inspiration for so many photographers and artists.

I sometimes come across a scene that seems composed before I capture any image, like this classic yellow truck juxtaposed against the garage door and a tree with red blooms. The lines and shapes, the play of light and shadow, and the combination of colors seemed to work perfectly. Though recently I’ve been concentrating on acrylic painting, I’m still compelled to capture engaging images when they appear in my observed surroundings.

J.D. Griffith, age 42, the miner in this photograph, is a resident of Neon Kentucky and a multigenerational coal miner. He is employed by Linnet Mining in Cumberland, Kentucky, as an electrical repairman.

J.D. has worked in the mines since age 19. He is the father of four and grandfather of one. His family’s mining history goes back decades. He has lost several relatives in mining accidents, one losing his life in the historic Scotia Mine disaster in Letcher County.

According to J.D., “Once you crawl in that mine, you will never be happy anywhere else.”

In 2010, I moved with my best friend from upstate New York to Morehead, Kentucky. Nine years later, I lost that best friend to asthma. Since then, I’ve rededicated time to why we moved to Kentucky: to explore its mystery and bask in its beauty. This region is our home, where we feel a sense of place and belonging. That sense is what I reflect in my landscape photography work.

My photography places you in the scene at the moment. I aim to reflect my emotions and feelings when producing an image. I would love to provide less abled folks with that same rush of joy I experience when visiting a new place. And for abled people, I hope my photos inspire them to spend more time outside, experiencing the joy and beauty of Kentucky landscapes.

About the photo
The Milky Way appears as a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that the naked eye cannot individually distinguish. Its appearance is most pronounced on the southern side of the sky and when the moon isn’t visible. When photographed with a high-quality lens and camera, you can expose more detail in the Milky Way than the human eye can see. This brings new color and definition to the Milky Way, displaying how the sky’s natural beauty interacts with the beauty here at home.

Cave Run Lake hosts some of the darkest skies on the east coast. If you visit in August or September, the Milky Way appears early after dark. If you’re on the Rowan County side and looking south toward Bath County, you can experience the hazy view of the Milky Way with little to no light pollution affecting the skies.

“Into the distance I watch for you
and in silence I pray.
Down the hill of the battlefield I gaze
as the sound of muskets and cannons dissipates.
I stand and wait while the hope slowly departs
and in silence I mourn as into the distance I see you not”

(©Laura Zecchin ’23)

This photograph was taken at the Perryville Battlefield Remembrance in October of 2023. An image that truly captured me as without much explanation it has so much dept and emotions. I kept looking at this figure of a lady in mourning, which remained silent throughout the entire ceremony of remembrance, as if allowing the visitors to feel her emotions.

Artist Biography
An Italian native, I came to the United States when I was 19 years old. Married to a retired Army service member and mom to two big pups and a Morgan mare. I travel to several states to pursue my passion and capture those special moments or unique scenery. Even though California had been my home since I moved from Italy, when I visited stunning Kentucky in 2021, I fell in love. So much so that it has now become our other home and I couldn’t be happier with the friendly welcome we received from everyone and the beauty that surrounds us every single day.

I was born in a family of artists. My father was an amazing painter and writer with his passion being landscape design. My brother was an architect that specialized in interior design, and my mother did magnificent embroidery. By virtue of my family environment, I felt a natural vibe to be artistic at a very young age and, with no training at all, I started developing my own style.

I used pencil drawings and writing as a means to convey my feelings on paper. When I moved to the States, as my family was still in Italy, I used to draw the faces of my loved ones, as drawing them somehow helped me engrave the details of them in my memory. As I progressed, I realized that photography was what I gravitated toward, I felt it was my calling. Most of my photos are in black and white as they remind me of pencil drawings, which retrospectively brings me back to how my interest in art begun.

Photography is a passion. I see art in anything that surrounds us. It is merely how it is captured that makes the difference, the emotions it can evoke, and how it can be interpreted by anyone looking at it.

I hope that anyone looking at my work can see what I see, and the emotional connection I have with the subjects I am fortunate to photograph.