Vermont Captured in Black-and-White

A conversation with Fine Art Photographer/Painter Alistair McCallum

Artists relocate to Vermont for good reasons — the lighting, pastoral landscapes, rugged forests and wildlife. Alistair McCallum relocated to Vermont from Colorado in 1985. A year later, he started selling his photographs.

During the past 35 years, he has built an impressive catalog of photography and paintings. His work is represented in several galleries throughout Vermont, including the Depot Street Gallery in Ludlow and Vermont Artisan Designs in Brattleboro. Shutterbug Magazine, Artscope and Vermont Sunday Magazine have featured McCallum.

A master of black and white and colored photography and painting, McCallum reveals the magic of Vermont’s natural beauty.

When did you first start pursuing photography, or when did it catch your interest?

I started photographing in 1972 when I was 15. I was interested in astronomy, and my parents gave me a 35mm SLR to take astronomy photos. I quickly fell in love with photography and gave up the astronomy. I learned some of the basics of darkroom work in high school and went on to set up a lab in my parents’ basement. I spent many nights printing images of the New Jersey coast where I lived and street scenes of New York and

Boston. I went on to study photography and filmmaking at the Rochester Institute of Technology, from which I graduated with a BFA in 1979.

Who were your influences then and now?

I was inspired by the landscape work of Edward Weston, Wynn Bullock, Ansel Adams and the photojournalism of W. Eugene Smith. I saw an Ansel Adams exhibit at the Metropolitan in New York while in high school, which amazed me and gave me an idea of how beautiful a black and white photograph can be. I remember thinking to myself, “How does he do that?” I also was inspired by the collection of photographs at the Museum of Modern Art and the International Center for Photography in New York. As far as contemporary photography, I enjoy the work of Paul Caponigro.

Where are your origins? What inspired you to relocate to Vermont?

I was born and raised in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, a small town on the water about an hour south of New York. After attending RIT, I headed west and spent several months traveling and camping in Wyoming, Utah and Arizona before settling in Colorado, where I met my wife, Joan. We moved to Mount Holly, Vermont, in 1985, and I started selling my photography here a year later.

Do you use digital or analog photography?

Of course, my work was originally analog. In the late 1990s, I began experimenting with digital printing, scanning my negatives and printing with custom black and white inks in large format inkjet printers. I currently continue to shoot analog for most of my black-and-white work, along with some digital. Most of my color work is digital, as is the printing process.

What kind of cameras or formats do you use?

I shoot black and white film with a pair of Pentax medium format that I bought over 30 years ago. They make negatives measuring 6x7 and 6x4.5 cm in size. I also have a collection of canon digital SLRs and lenses that I use for most of my color.

What do you enjoy most about black and white photography?

I like the way black-and-white photography emphasizes and enhances light, shadow, shapes and textures. Going out and exploring the back roads looking for new images is probably the most enjoyable and exciting part of the process, as is editing and printing the images. I enjoy heading out into the winter weather to photograph, particularly in black and white. When the sun is low and casting shadows across the snowy landscape is a favorite time for me. I also like to photograph during snowstorms. When there’s a good snow coming down, it transforms and adds depth to the landscape. I find myself shooting more color in the summer and am drawn to the warmer light on the fields, mountains and lakes. In winter, I look for color shots that are almost black and white, apart from a splash of color on a barn or dried leaves on a tree.

On the topic of your paintings, when did you begin painting?

I first started painting in the 1990s but stopped as I was getting too busy with my photography and family life. I picked it up again seven years ago. I find that painting meshes well with my photography.

Do you paint from photographs, and what is your process?

When I go out now, I’m looking for both photos and painting subjects. My camera is basically my sketchbook that I work from back in my studio. I’m not so interested in being totally realistic with my painting. I feel like I can do that with my photography. I find it satisfying and rewarding to work in a new media.

Learn more at: alistairmccallum.com & mccallumfineart.com

Since 1875 the Kentucky Derby has not only been the fastest two minutes in sports but has evolved into an amazingly unique experience for entertaining and gathering, unrivaled in the spring. While nearly 1,000 miles from the Monadnock Region, the nation turns its eyes to the heartland for those few intense moments every year.

So why not enjoy it at your very own home, surrounded by those near and dear? If you love fashion, food and fun, consider hosting our version of this fun party: the Keene-Tucky Derby.

Here are some ideas:

Fashion

It’s all about the hat! A quick Instagram search of #derbyhats reveals 65,000+ exotic entries, no two being alike. Whether you find, buy or make the hat, it always makes a statement!

Food

DON’T FORGET THE ‘JAR-CUTERIE’

Jar-cuterie is taking the party scene by storm. Hosts can delight their guests with single-serving charcuteries loaded into small Mason jars. It’s the perfect snack for making your way around the social event. You can include your favorite meats, cheese, nuts, fruits and veggies. Also, consider the following: fried chicken, pimento-cheese tea sandwiches, and deviled eggs with country ham.

Think of the Kentucky Derby as the ‘Superbowl of the Spring’

No Kentucky Derby party would be complete without a proper Southern spread. We have a recipe for you to follow (next page) that will win the crowd over. Burgoo is a hearty Southern stew featuring a minimum of three meats (usually some combination of pork, chicken, beef, sheep or wild game) and delicious vegetables, including corn, Lima beans, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions and more, in a tomato base with a variety of spices and flavors. By the way, the tell-tale sign of an excellent Burgoo is that you can make the spoon stand on end in the bowl!

Cocktails

The fun part is that after all the drama and excitement of the race, a pickup may be called for, like Bourbon Balls and Bourbon Pecan Pie. Mocktails and cocktails, like the legendary Mint Julep, are the perfect complements to the meal.

In conclusion, don’t be afraid to throw that derby party. Think “Superbowl of the Spring,” make those memories, and meet new faces!

If you want to get a feel for this event but aren’t sure you want to commit to hosting a party, PoshHaus will have an open house at our new location all day on Kentucky Derby Day, on May 6, 2023, with prizes for the best derby hat and raffles for swag.

Scott-Farrar at Peterborough has been providing compassionate care to seniors of the Monadnock Region for over 113 years! Some of the great benefits of living in the Scott-Farrar Community today include:

• Chef prepared meals

• Staff onsite 24/7

• Happy Hour, yoga, movie matinees, gardening & more

• Housekeeping & maintenance

• Medication & transportation assistance

• Individualized care plan

• Onsite physical, occupational and speech therapy services And much more!

Call us today 603-924-3691 to schedule a tour of Scott-Farrar at Peterborough.