By Sasha Lucas
In Motion Staff Writer
For four consecutive months, the Southeast Museum of Photography exhibited the noted photographer Henry Horenstein’s latest collection, “Animalia,” a display of a variety of land animals and sea creatures that has attracted crowds since its October opening.
On Feb. 5, the SMP held an artist lecture and closing reception in his honor. Fans and followers filled the George Anderson Culinary Hall in the Hosseini Center, building 1200, where Horenstein presented a slideshow of past works that gave him his great reputation as an artist in photography. But it’s more than a career for Horenstein.
His passion for photography and the inspiration that drives it, he said, “Can come from anywhere.”
During his opening remarks, Horenstein said, “I see students now, they have such ambitions early on, which I think is great. It’s good to have such focus. They think their world is going to happen in this short period of time, in this bubble they call art photography. But it can happen outside.”
With a career in photography that began in the 1970s, Horenstein has documented some of America’s unexplored territories which he revealed delicately with respect and honor. He also has a talent for mixing history and art in his photography.
In an interview, the artist revealed that his major in college was history. He was serious about being a historian, but that changed after he found his passion for photography.
“As a historian, you are hanging out in a library where it was kind of lonely. Then I met a couple of photographers and they had lots of girlfriends,” he joked.
“I noticed photographers just got out more. I loved my colleagues, but I loved getting out and being around people. I didn’t come from an academic background. My father was a shoe salesman.”
As also outlined on his official website, www.horenstein.com:
“I have photographed country musicians in Nashville, my family and friends in Massachusetts, horse racing at Saratoga, nightlife in Buenos Aires, old highways everywhere, everyone in Cajun Louisiana, South American baseball, camel breeding in Dubai, tri-racial families in Maryland, and much, much more.”
During his appearance Horenstein displayed on a large screen images from an unpublished body of work, “WESORTS,” about a 300-year-old tri-racial community in Maryland. In Maryland, WESORTS were a race category of their own, established from a mix of Caucasian, African American and Native Americans and translated from the term “we sorts of people.” The images he displayed showed crisp black and white images of small town Maryland residents that were a unique and beautiful mix of races.
After his impressive lecture, the artist, photographer, teacher and author had a question-and-answer period. Many photography students and professionals stood to ask questions. Local photographer Liz Scavilla was the first.
“What is your favorite lens to shoot portraits with?,” she asked.
Horenstein responded, “I don’t really have a straight answer. I’m sorry. It really depends on the portrait and if I want to include the environment, then I like to use a wide-angled lens. I don’t like to distort my subject. With animals sometimes I use a macro lens to get focused.”
Afterwards, guests were directed into the foyer and treated to hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Guests lined up to speak with Horenstein one-on-one and have him autograph the book that accompanies the exhibit, also titled “Animalia.” It is one of his 10 previously published works.