For most, the sight of a hinge would not be considered art.
For professional photographer Gary Behrens, it is just that – when seen through the lens of his camera.
“I see things that other people don’t see,” said the retired electrical engineer.
An exhibit of Behrens’ landscape and graphic art is on display at the Derby Public Library through Feb. 15. Residents are invited to meet Behrens during a reception on Thursday, Jan. 19, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Behrens’ specialty is wide or tall vistas, created with multiple frames which he puts together as a composite panorama. He said his equipment will print 24 inches tall and could be as much as 100 feet wide, “if I had that much ink.”
For framing purposes, he actually limits his prints to 60 inches wide, but his designs maintain his unique vision.
He now markets his landscapes through art shows. He also has found a niche which put his love of the graphic world and electricity into the photos he has taken of power poles. Utility companies have contracted his services when they want to brag about major projects.
His interest in photography began at about age 10 and as a teen he found himself looking at ways to change the camera’s ability. He used a metal lathe and a lens from a pair of binoculars to create his own close-up lens. He later fabricated an aluminum auxiliary viewfinder with an attached string for focusing.
Those childhood efforts left little surprise that Behrens would follow a successful 40-year engineering career for Black and Veatch.
He took up photography as a profession after he retired in 1999 and decided he needed to boost his income.
For more information about Behrens, go to www.westwindvistas.com.