A Surrealistic Country Journey - Photography Exhibit

PALESTINE, Ill. - Oct. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- Lawrence County resident, Steve Hardesty, will exhibit a collection of his photography at The Village Framery, located at 121 South Main Street, Palestine, IL during the month of November. The exhibit, titled “A Surrealistic Country Journey”, features photos taken in small towns and rural areas of Southern Illinois and Indiana. A “First Friday” event is planned for Friday, November 1st, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (IL time). Light refreshments will be served.

Steve is a native of Palestine, IL and currently resides in the rural Flat Rock, IL area. He  is a relative newcomer to the ranks of serious amateur photography. He attributes his interest in photography to the digital camera and a close photographer friend. He quickly moved from a simple point and shoot digital camera, to a bridge type 'Prosumer' rig, to his first DSLR, and most recently has regressed to shooting 35mm film cameras.

He finds his subject material on the back-roads, and in the small towns, of the Midwest - most notably in Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana. Favored subjects are old barns, old tractors, and old cars and trucks. His current favorite cameras are a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 and a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 70. His backup includes an Olympus Evolt E-450 DSLR.

Steve's approach to style and technique are as notably different from the 'norm' as is his choice of cameras. The majority of his work has been treated to a healthy dose of different surrealistic techniques. His favorite pieces exhibit either a Holga/Lomo effect or his own soft focused 'Antique Color' effect. Although a bit more involved, the basis of his style is fashioned after photos taken with the very inexpensive Chinese Holga camera. This camera was notorious for producing photos that display vignetting, blur, light leaks, and other distortions.

He has won several awards for his work, both online and at area shows and contests. He is a member of both the Wabash Valley Art Guild and the Northwest Territory Art Guild in Vincennes.

For more info, please contact Jim Ellis at The Village Framery at (618) 554-6233, or by e-mail at phramer@pioneercity.com